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LUELLA BLASSINGAME; 



THE BLUE AND THE GRAY. 


!/ 


J. MAT. CLARK. 




Nashvillk, Tenn. : 
McQuiddy Printing Company. 
1903. 




THE LIBRARY OF 
CONGRESS, 

Two Copies Received 

MAY J} 1903 

Copyright Entry 
CUSSU cu XXc. No. 

^ ^ 3 r g" ‘ 

COPY 8. 


Copyright, 1903, by J. Mat. Clark. 


CONTENTS. 


PAGE. 

Chapter 1 9 

Chapter II 17 

Chapter III 26 

Chapter IV 35 

Chapter V 44 

Chapter VI 52 

Chapter VII 62 

Chapter VIII 71 

Chapter IX 82 

Chapter X 91 

Chapter XL. loi 

Chapter XII no 

Chapter XIII 119 

Chapter XIV 128 

Chapter XV 137 

Chapter XVI 146 

Chapter XVII 154 

Chapter XVIII 162 

Chapter XIX 170 

Chapter XX 179 

Chapter XXI 188 

Chapter XXII 196 

Chapter XXIII 203 

Chapter XXIV 210 

Addenda 216 



PREFACE. 


Just why I write this story I shall not affect to 
explain. “ vStory ! ’’ It is not all fiction ; it is a nar- 
ration of facts not at all startling to those who lived 
in the Southland during the turbulent times of 
1861-1865. The characters represented in this story 
were real persons, all well known to the writer, and 
a great many others will readily recognize them. 
No; this narrative is true, and the chief of its fail- 
ures is this: that it cannot, for lack of space, tell 
all the truth. The light is not bright enough, the 
shadow is not black enough, to give a true picture 
of that bit of Southern* experience of which this 
writer was some small part. This story, while 
yielding not one iota of the righteousness of the 
“ lost cause,” has no political significance. It 
shows only the true conditions as they then ex- 
isted. What is shown of the relations maintained be- 
tween Tom and Luella Blassingame and their serv- 
ants is true of the relations which existed between 
most other masters and slaves. “ Let Lincoln, 
Jeff. Davis, and the rest fight it out,” Lieuten- 
ant Tobin’s remark about being tired of the war, 
was a common expression among the Union sol- 
diers, while Cox expressed the sentiments of a 
great many “Johnny Rebs ” in the exclamation : 
“ O, the war had to come ! The politicians, mis- 
called ‘ statesmen,’ who were going to whip the en- 
emy before breakfast and drink all the blood that 
would be spilled, and then skulked into bombproof 
berths, had to have war.” 


8 


Preface. 


The gist of the story is that a true man does not 
forget that he is such, under any condition or cir- 
cumstance. Blassingame and Lynn bared their 
breasts to shot and shell and saber thrust, and even 
sought combat vi et armis; but in armistice they 
were equally chivalrous, conciliatory, and magnani- 
mous. That Lynn became a Southern sympa- 
thizer was no exception ; numbers of Northern sol- 
diers underwent a like experience. As Senator La- 
mar said by the bier of Senator Sumner, If we 
had known each other better, we would have loved 
each other more — an impression that often oc- 
curred to both Yank ’’ and ‘‘ Reb ” during the 
'' unpleasantness. ’’ That true love is paramount to 
all else was exemplified by Luella and Ernest. We 
all know Uncle Eph., Dilcy, and Jim. The latter 
two stayed with the white folks, and are contented 
and happy; Uncle Eph. is a fraud, pauper, and ren- 
egade. THE AUTHOR. 

Brownsville, Tenn., March 4, 1903. 


CHAPTER I. 


We hear a great deal of hard-times talk now.* It 
does no good ; it does harm. Let us look upon the 
bright side, or go to work and rub up and burnish 
the dark side. All this grewsome talk causes every- 
body to feel blue ” and depressed. We can never 
have all we desire in this life. Our wants are il- 
limitable ; our actual needs are few and simple. A 
little plain regimen and sober apparel will perhaps 
conduce to the chastening of our souls and the bet- 
terment of our bodies, besides adding zest and ap- 
preciation for better things when they do return. 
Unbroken prosperity has ever proved detrimental 
to both individuals and nations. We lived through 
four years of fratricidal war. My father lived 
twenty- two miles south of Memphis, Tenn., and 
after the Federals took that city our section was 
continually overran by foraging parties from the 
South and devastating hordes from the North, be- 
sides sundry bands of guerrillas. These latter were 
operating ostensibly in the interest of the South; 
but in reality they were devSperate adventurers, 
mostly renegades from Kansas, Missouri, and 
Texas, in quest of blood and booty, regardless of 
the proclivities of their victims. They rode in 
bands of a dozen or so, with a captain at the head 
of each band. Their horses, arms, and accouter- 
ments were of the best; they wore no regulation 

This story was written during the spring and summer of 
1902, in the “hard times ” following crop failures of the pre- 
ceding year. 


10 


Luella Blassingame: 


uniforms, but nondescript appairel — -combination 
suits of blue, gray, and citizen’s garb (all of the 
best). They were apparently a dashing, dare-devil 
set, but really fought from the Tover of the bush, 
except when they swooped down upon a defense- 
less citizen for plunder, a solitary “ Yank ” for his 
life and uniform, or a blockade runner for a bonus. 
A few home “ scalawags ” joined these marauders 
and were most dreaded by our people, because they 
were familiar with the lay of the country and knew 
just when and where to strike for plunder, to 
avenge an imaginary wrong, or to gratify a vehal 
spirit. The able-bodied men were in the army; 
the negroes were silently stealing away to Mem- 
phis, taking the best mules with them ; and yet the 
women, the children, and the old men lived through 
those four years. Surely we can survive one short 
crop year. 

During the years 1863-1864, detachments of Fed- 
eral cavalry made frequent raids down through 
North Mississippi when they believed that General 
Forrest was not in striking distance. In this 
story we have to do with Colonel Hatch’s raid. 
His forces were scattered, and were sweeping the 
country “ like a fine-tooth comb,” broadcast — taking 
forage, horses, mules, and negroes, and plundering 

houses. Capt. Ernest Lynn, of the th Ohio 

Cavalry, encamped with his company in a grove in 
front of the residence of Mr. Blassingame, a wealthy 
planter, near the border of the Coldwater River 
Bottom. Mr. Blassingame was an aged and infirm 
widower and lived with his only daughter, Lu- 
ella, a typical Southern beauty of nineteen years. 
He also had an only son, who was a captain in 


The Blue and the Gray. 


11 


Forrest’s command — a brave, handsome young of- 
ficer. Now, Captain Lynn, knowing that Forrest, 
with his command, was in Alabama, and feeling 
little apprehension of being annoyed by the guer- 
rillas, was in no haste to move on, but was content 
to remain in the Blassingame grove, where his men 
could forage around and bring in aplenty of chick- 
ens, eggs, buttermilk, etc. More than all, his view 
was entranced and his susceptible heart set to pal- 
pitating when he caught an occasional glimpse of 
his Maud Muller” (as he called her), as she 
moved about the house and yard over the way. No 
wonder, for she was a regal beauty — a queen of the 
old Southland; and she was never more beautiful 
than when attired in a homespun dress, white 
apron, and nobby wheat-straw sailor (made by her 
own hands), with the midnight tresses rippling 
halfway down her skirt. Again, she would don a 
more pretentious costume of expensive fabric, but 
out of date, of course, in style. She was cultured 
and highly accomplished, but practical and do- 
mestic withal. 

He ^ sK 

Now, the depredations of these soldiers upon the 
premises became so wanton and outrageous that 
Luella decided to give the Captain '' a piece 
of her mind ” about it. She dispatched a note to 
him, requesting his immediate presence at the 
house. He complied instanter. The supple figure 
of the girl, with head thrown back in scornful de- 
fiance, stood out in relief against the screen of 
clematis that climbed to the eaves of the veranda. 
Accompanied by an orderly, the Captain, in a uni- 
form of blue, with gold lace, and with clanking 
spurs and dangling sword, strode up to the front 


12 


Luella Blassingame; 


of the mansion, thinking her even more charming 
than when seen from a distance. There she stood, 
as proud as a princess and full of fire to her finger 
tips. The audacity of her rage enhanced his ad- 
miration, inspired his gallantry, and excited his im- 
agination. 

“Your vandals may pull our corn, trample our 
cotton, rob our henroost, take our horses and mules, 
and sack our smokehouse ; but when it comes to 
equalizing with our negroes, whispering visionary 
stories in their ears, and teaching them to be in- 
solent — I called you, sir, to see whether or not you 
have any sense of honor, pride, or decency.’’ 

“ Show me the men who have done this, and 
I’ll—” 

She raised her arm impatiently, and, shaking her 
finger in his face, exclaimed : “ Show you the men, 
indeed! How can I point them out? They all 
look alike to me. Where are your eyes and ears, 
sir? It is your duty, and should be your pleasure, 
to know and punish the miscreants, if you are a 
gentle — ” 

“ Da am all de mos’ onery, low-down, po’ white 
trash, Linctum Erpublicans, I ever see ; da all up ter 
some deviltry de whole injurin’ time. I ain’t gwine 
hab no truck wid ’em. You heah me! ” said Aunt 
Dilcy, who had come to the rescue, the flame of 
battle in her eye, her shrill voice causing the hens 
to cackle in the barn lot. 

The Captain’s eyes gave a merry twinkle. “ I 
hear you. Aunty; your voice is as soft and low as 
the cadence of a dulcimer ; it scarcely reaches me, 
but I manage to get the gist of your complimentary 
remarks. Now, Miss Blassingame, as to this unso- 
licited information regarding the character of my 
men — ” 


The Blue and the Gray. 13 

Shoo ! Go ’way now! Hit jist p’intedly gibs 
me de disgnsters to heah sich perlaveratin’- — ” 

“ That will do, Aunt Dilcy,” interrupted Luella. 
“ Go back to the kitchen now ; I can say all that 
should be said.” 

I think you are amply capable of doing that 
without the assistance of Aunty. Doubtless 
it will do you g'ood to express your opinion of us, 
so just speak out all you think and feel. I am all 
respectful attention.” 

It seemed that she had a good deal to say that 
she had laid up for the first Yankee officer that 
might come her way, and Captain Lynn got the full 
benefit. He was told things about himself and his 
motives which were a revelation to him, and such 
things as are not often given a man to hear from 
such adorable lips. The flashing, scornful eyes ; 
the swelling throat ; the imperious gestures ; and the 
thrilling, though modulated, voice, fascinated the 
brave, handsome young man ; and he thought it 
quite natural that the young Mississippi belle 
should hate the men who were fighting her kinsmen 
and destroying their property. Her anger was 
stirred by the patient admiration of this enemy of 
the cause she loved, even though he were a hand- 
some, boyish young fellow. How dared he take 
the liberty to admire her? (She saw that he did 
admire her.) 

‘‘How dare you? You black Republican I You 
Yankee, negro-loving abolitionist!” cried Luella, 
angrily. 

Lynn only smiled, raised his hat, and bowed low. 
“ You do me an injustice,” he said. “ I assure you 
that I have always been a Democrat, am still a 
Democrat ; and my father and all my people are of 
the same political faith.” 


14 


Luella Blassingame: 


“ Then why are you fighting to rob us of our 
property — to free our negroes ? ” 

“ There is a principle involved more vital than 
the slavery question — the preservation of the Un- 
ion, the extension of slavery, and — ” 

“ Principle ! ” she echoed, scornfully. “ What 
sort of principle is it that incites men to murder, 
rob, steal, burn, and devastate?” She indignantly 
ascended the steps, passed through the hall, entered 
a room, and slammed the door. 

A rueful smile caused Lynn’s lips to twitch nerv- 
ously. “Guess she’s all ‘Reb;’ hates ‘Yanks’ 
worse than snakes. My gracious! Didn’t she flay 
me? But those eyes, and that wonderful voice! ” 

* * 

Captain Lynn remained two days longer in the 
Blassingame grove; and though he enforced strict 
orders and used every precaution to prevent his 
men from intruding or poaching upon the premises 
of his fair neighbor, he received no thanks for his 
pains. Once, in meeting her on the road, she did 
not deign to notice his deferential salute, but as- 
sumed a far-ahead, disdainful look, and drew her 
draperies about her as if fearing contamination. 
After this, he never saw her, except when he would 
walk away from the camp, pass up or down the 
road, enter the woods and return to camp from its 
rear and secrete himself behind a natural wild- 
grape arbor. Then, after a scrutinizing survey of 
the camp, to make sure that he was not in sight, she 
would venture out upon the veranda or into the 
front yard, little dreaming that a pair of eager eyes 
Avere peering through the interstices of the foliage 
beyond the camp. As for the gaze of the other sol- 


The Blue and the Gray. 15 

diers, the common herd, that gave her no more con- 
cern than the wild-eyed stare of her father’s cattle. 
But when the Captain, with his military bearing 
and elastic step, moved about the camp or mounted 
his splendid charger for a gallop with his orderly, 
who will blame the possessor of those glorious op- 
tics if they looked out upon the landscape through 
the accommodating meshes of lace curtains? And 
who can deny that those telltale windows of the 
soul revealed the alternating expressions of inher- 
ent hatred and its latent opposite? But we must 
not surmise nor anticipate. 

* * ik 

Coldwater Swamp bordered upon the edge of the 
Blassingame plantation ; in fact, a considerable por- 
tion of the cultivated land was river bottom. 
A corduroy road ran across the bottom, leading to 
the little town of Arkabutla, some six miles beyond. 
Along this road the Blassingame household saw 
Captain Lynn and his men ride away one morning. 
Luella sat well back from the windows, with the 
camp and the road in full view, but where she could 
not be seen from without. The bugle called to 
saddles; then came the bustle and stir. The col- 
umn formed, and the young Captain, looking so 
handsome and brave, cast one searching look to- 
ward the house, and the company moved away. A 
sudden tremor agitated the form of our heroine, and 
a commingled expression, born of the conflict of 
contrariwise emotions, overcast her countenance as 
sunshine and shadows alternately flit athwart the 
flower-decked meadows. She mused as follows : 
“ He is some mother’s darling; no doubt he is a sis- 
ter’s pride and protector; and perhaps his image is 


16 


Luella Blassingame. 


sacredly enshrined in the heart of some fair 
maiden, who only awaits the ending of this cruel 
war for the consummation of her fondest hopes and 
brightest dreams. But for the accident of birth, 
training, and environment, he would doubtless be 
riding now with brother Tom, battling for Southern 
rights.” And those eyes grew soft and sympa- 
thetic. 


CHAPTER II. 


“ Ht Yi? Bless de Lawd, Missis! Dem blue- 
coated vilyurns hab remoose de rank an’ skedaddle 
for good, I trus’ ! ” exclaimed Aunt Dilcy, bursting 
into the room. “ Da am er low-down, sneakin’ set, 
de whole kit an’ bilin’ — ” 

“ Hush, Aunt Dilcy ! Some of them would no 
doubt be gentlemen under other circumstances, 
and — ” 

Right you is, honey ! De Cap’n done gib us 
niggers all a talk yistiddy. He ’vised us ter stay 
right heah on de place wid you an’ ole Marse, an’ 
he p’intedly ’j’ined us ter try an’ ’tect you ’g’inst de 
g’rillers an’ sich. He say if we gwine ter be free, 
we be made free righ heah at home.” 

“ Yes, what he told you is all so, and will be best 
for you and us; but run along about your cooking 
now. Dinner must be ready by three o’clock to- 
morrow. Brother Tom will be here by that time, 
if he can possibly get leave of absence, and some of 
his comrades will be with him. He and I have 
never yet failed to eat our birthday dinner to- 
gether.” 

I ’members well when, on yer buddy Tom’s birf- 
day, I ’formed him dat a little sister had come. 
Nebber you fear, chile; I’ll hab er dinner ter tickle 
der palit ob er ipercune.” 

“ Go along now. Aunt Dilcy I My head aches.” 
(Was it her head?) 

She mused and meditated, and wondered how she 
could find it in her heart to treat this boy Captain 


18 


Luella Blassingame: 


so rudely. She now began to think of the dangers 
ahead of him — not so much on account of the fury 
of open and honorable battles with her own people, 
but of the traps, snares, and bushwhackings of the 
guerrillas. At last she reclined upon a sofa and 
tried to read until sleep fell upon her. 

About one o’clock she was aroused by a great 
commotion in the negro quarters. She looked out 
and saw Dick Cartwright and five of his men com- 
ing up the road in a gallop, firing scattering shots 
at the scampering negroes, who were fleeing across 
the fields. The guerrillas were now entering the 
yard through the big gate on the roadside. 

* * * 

# 

“ What a God-forsaken country this is, Lynn ! ” 
Thus spoke Lieutenant Tobin in a sudden fit of 
homesickness after they had entered the dismal 
swamp. Disgust was written upon his boyish face, 
and his ejaculation came in petulant tones. His 
eyes had a discontented, far-away look as they wan- 
dered over the semitropical luxuriance that lay out 
in bewildering confusion on either side of the road. 
Coldwater Bottom was a blaze of variegated tints 
and hues. The white, gleaming arms of the syca- 
more ; the yellow poplar blossoms ; the crimson 
redbud ; every shade of green ; and a score of other 
color effects ran riot in crazy-pattern splashes 
against the dark-green background of dense cane- 
brakes. The effect was resplendent enough to 
please the most critical, but the very profusion of 
this Southern arbor flora wearied Lieutenant Tobin. 
Poor boy! He was thinking of a blue-eyed girl 
whom he had left in tears among the apple blos- 
soms in the rolling hills of Ohio. 


The Blue and the Gray. 19 

Lynn laughed merrily. Nearly always there was 
a ripple of laughter suggested in his manner. “ O, 
it isn t half bad!” he replied. “Did you ever see 
anything fairer than the outlook to the left?” 

“ O, I haven’t lost any scenery of that kind, and 
am not looking for any! The whole jungle is full 
of malaria, fever, mosquitoes, snakes, and guer- 
rillas. Say, Cap., I am heartily sick of this whole 
business, anyway. The white people of the South 
are not so bad ; in fact, I rather like them, and ad- 
mire their pluck and spirit. If they want to quit 
the Union, I say: Let them go. Their interests are 
different from ours. As to freeing the negro, the 
idea is preposterous. I say: Let Lincoln, Jeff. 
Davis, and the rest fight it out, and — ” 

“Halloo! Whom have we here? ” interrupted 
Lynn. 

A solitary horseman, attired in a half-and-half 
uniform and wearing a Federal officer’s hat (one 
side pinned up with a plume and rosette), a sash, 
a sword, and holsters, and bearing aloft a whits 
handkerchief as a truce signal, rode rapidly along 
a trail through the swamp to intercept them. He 
pulled up in front of Captain Lynn. 

“Are you the ‘ Yanks ’ that have been campin’ at 
the Blassingame place ? ” asked the newcomer. 

“ W e are,” replied Captain Lynn. 

“ Then I must tell you that Cartwright an’ his 
men are cleanin’ up that ar plantation by this time.” 

“ How do you know ? ” 

“ I’ve been one uv ’em myself. Quit ’em jes’ 
now ’cause I couldn’t stan’ by an’ see Dick Cart- 
wright rob an’ mebbe kill Miss Luella an’ her 
helpless old father jes’ ’cause Tom Blassingame 
horsewhipped him once. Seems thar’s a lot uv 
money, gold an’ silver, hid about the house; an’ 


20 


Luella Blassingame: 


Cartwright has found it out, an’ that swag he must 
have. I jes’ can’t be still an’ let Dick an’ his cut- 
throats do this thing.” 

Captain Lynn wheeled his horse half round and 
gave his orders in sharp, clear, ringing notes : “At- 
tention, company ! About, face ; countermarch ; 
double-quick ! ” 

They were going the back track at a fast gallop, 
when they met a horseman, an elderly gentleman 
in citizen’s garb, who was gesticulating wildly and 
calling them to halt. 

“ Newsome Sowell ! ” exclaimed our late guerrilla. 
“ How did you ’scape the boys? ” 

Newsome Sowell was a blockade runner, haul- 
ing cotton to Memphis and taking goods back 
South, holding permits and passes procured from 
General Washburne, General Smith, and others. 
He was returning from Memphis now, his four 
wagons being just behind him. 

“Well, well. Bud Philput! Why were you not 
with the ‘ boys ’ when they held me up back at the 
bridge just now? O, the money, money, money 
they did take from me ! ” 

“ I’ve quit them scoundrels fer good, tJncle Sow- 
ell. But why didn’t you hide yer wad, er the bulk 
uv it, in one uv the wagons ? ” 

“ I did. I tied it up in a cornshuck and dropped 
it in the bottom of the wagon bed, kind of careless 
like ; but it was no good, boys. They stood me up 
on the edge of the middle span of the bridge, with 
a noose about my neck, and the other end of the 
rope made fast to the cap rail. ‘ Now,’ said Devil 
Dick, ‘ shell out or jump off,’ putting his hand 
against my back to give me a push. I shelled out, 
boys — or, rather, shucked out the last dollar.” 


The Blue and the Gray. 21 

“How did we miss them?” asked Lynn. “We 
came over that way just now.” 

“ They saw you, but you were too many for 
them ; so they lay low in the bushes and let you 
pass. They were on their way to Squire Blassin- 
game’s, but were delayed by meeting me; and if 
you’ll hurry on, you’ll not be far behind them.” 

The cavalcade again moved at a fast gallop. Er- 
nest Lynn learned his riding at West Point; but 
he had never before taken a ride to compare to 
this wild rush over the rotten crossway, which 
crumbled beneath the hoofs of his flying horse. 
More than once his horse went blundering, but, hav- 
ing the nerve, spirit, and fire of his master, recov- 
ered his footing and sped on. Canebrake, papaw 
thicket, cypress swamp, slough bridge, and bayou 
flashed by unheeded. Captain Lynn knew or 
thought of nothing but to get back in time to save 
Luella Blassingame. The horrible thought that he 
might be too late to foil that devil, Dick Cartwright, 
wrought him up to a fearful tension. The guer- 
rilla’s long record of rapine and murder rose up to 
appall the young officer. When he emerged from 
the swamp forest and the Blassingame residence a 
half mile distant greeted his sight, he was riding 
alone, far in advance of his men. He saw about a 
half dozen men enter the yard at the big gate and 
gallop up to the house, which they surrounded. All 
his faculties and perceptions were alert. Seeing the 
folly of attempting to approach the house by the 
road in the open, he turned to the left and rode 
a few rods along the fence of a cornfield. Finding 
a low panel of fence, he raised his horse, after the 
manner of the fox hunter, and his noble Selim 
cleared it. He was now approaching the house 
from an unexpected direction, while the attention 


22 


Luella Blassingame: 


of the guerrillas was directed down the road by the 
clatter of the horses of his men, who were just 
crossing the last slough bridge. Through the corn- 
field and up to the orchard fence he dashed, unper- 
ceived. Flinging himself to the ground, he strode 
through the orchard toward the house. A row of 
small cedars at the end of the house concealed his 
presence from those about the house. Here he 
halted for only a few seconds. There came to him 
the sound of a man's voice — an ominous, wicked, 
vindictive voice, with the rasp of a sullen threat 
to it. 

“ I swore to get even with Capt. Tom Blassin- 

game, and, by , I intend to do it. Ain’t that 

right, Jack Gross [his lieutenant] ? We’ve got 
your handsome bud where the wool is short, and 
I ’low, Miss Lu., we’ll have to relieve you of that 
pot of chink that’s planted somewhere about these 
premises.” 

“ I tell you if there is any money about this place, 
I do not know where it is. Perhaps brother Tom 
can point it out to you when he comes horne ; no 
one else can do so.” 

There was a note of appeal in the voice that went 
to Lynn’s heart; but he noticed with a thrill of 
pride and admiration that the words fell clear, firm, 
and defiant. The girl was as white as alabaster, 
but her brave eyes never wavered, and no tremor 
shook her form. 

‘‘Shucks! There’s no use in your talking this 
way. Just show us the shiners — the gold and 
the silver — and we won’t devil you any more. I’d 
hate to do you and your old dad any harm; but 
business is business, and — ” 

As he took a stride toward her, she flashed the 
glittering blade of a dagger from the folds of her 


The Blue and the Gray. 


23 


apron; and just then Lynn dashed through the ce- 
dars. The sentinel posted at that end of the house 
uttered a yell of warning to his comrades and fired 
at random, to be the next moment knocked down 
by a blow from Lynn’s saber. The startled guer- 
rillas caught sight of Lynn’s troopers as they came 
tearing up the road, ran for their own horses, and 
dashed out through a back gate across the corn- 
field and into the swamps. Lynn, with pistol in 
hand, rushed forward. Some scattering shots from 
the carbines of his own men hissed uncomfortably 
near him, and it was not long till he felt the sting 
of a bullet in his shoulder. The next moment he 
threw himself upon Cartwright, who struggled des- 
perately to free himself and reach his horse. The 
two men were down together, rolling over and over 
in a terrible struggle — the one trying to escape ; the 
other, to deliver his captive alive to the proper au- 
thorities. 

When Lieutenant Tobin returned to the house — 
after a short, but futile, pursuit of the fleeing rob- 
bers — he found Lynn astride of Cartwright, with a 
pistol at his head. The roll of greenbacks (several 
hundred dollars) taken from Newsome Sowell was 
found in Cartwright’s pocket and delivered to Lu- 
ella, to be .returned to Mr. Sowell. Lynn detailed 
a dozen men, with Tobin in command, to convey 
Cartwright as a prisoner to Memphis. 

Lynn and the remnant of his company then pre- 
pared to start again for Grenada, the understood 
point of rendezvous for Hatch’s forces. The Cap- 
tain, at the head of his company, sat his horse like a 
knight of old ; there was an indescribable expression 
upon his face, a grim hauteur in his bearing, a deter- 
mined set to his mouth, and a defiant flash of his 
eyes that astonished his comrades, as he cast one 


24 


Luella Blassingame : 


sweeping glance upon the house, with never a token 
of recognition from Luella, who still stood, as 
though transfixed, upon the veranda where Cart- 
wright had accosted her. 

Is it possible that sectional hatred can make 
us so blind that we become lost to all sense of ap- 
preciation of, to say nothing of gratitude for, the 
services of those who hold and strive to maintain 
principles in contradistinction to our own?” This 
thought was the gall of bitterness and cold iron 
that entered the soul and hardened the exterior 
of the sunny-souled, magnanimous cavalier. He 
was in the act of giving the command, Forward, 
company ! ” when Luella hastened down the steps 
and out to the side of his horse. There was neither 
diffidence, condescension, nor superciliousness in 
her words or manner. 

“ Captain Lynn,” said Luella, “ it was all so sud- 
den and unexpected — the great service which you 
and your brave men have rendered papa, brother, 
and myself — that I was at first dazed, and appar- 
ently indifferent ; even now I cannot command 
words to express our gratitude to you. I am really 
surprised that I should be the recipient of a kind- 
ness from you. For this one act I shall ever hold 
you in grateful remembrance.” She tried to pro- 
ceed, but halted, stammered, and broke down in 
confusion. 

A complete transformation was manifest in Cap- 
tain Lynn’s face and bearing before Luella ceased 
speaking. “ Do not try to say more now,” he 
replied in his gentlest tones. “ What you have 
just said is truly gratifying to me; and life will 
ever be brighter for me if I may hope that you will 
sometimes remember that a little [“ Yank ” he was 
about to say^ but suppressed the ironical impulse] 


The Blue and the Gray. 


25 


soldier and his comrades had the opportunity to 
perform a duty incumbent upon all gentlemen, and 
did it. If you consider it only an incident of the 
war — ’’ 

“ Such it must be, Captain — a passing incident, 
with its beginning and ending here and now.” 

“ If I might write tb you some time — ” 

“No, no! It cannot be! I trust that you may 
live to return to your home and loved ones,” she 
said, extending her hand. 

“ May the Lord bless and protect you,” he fer- 
vently murmured, clasping her hand and bending 
over her until his lips touched her raven-tressed 
crown. “ Come, men ; forward ! ” When near the 
big gate, he turned, lifted his hat, and called to Lu- 
ella, who had ascended the piazza steps : “ Give my 
kindest regards and a brother soldier’s greeting to 
Captain Tom when you see him. I hope I may 
meet him — after this unpleasantness is over. Ha, 
ha!” 


CHAPTER m. 


It was now late in the afternoon, and Captain 
Lynn and his men had to cross the shadowy Cold- 
water Swanip for the third time on this day. They 
had proceeded nearly to the farther side, when they 
were startled by cries, “ Help ! Murder ! followed 
by several pistol shots in quick succession, seem- 
ingly a couple of hundred yards down a bayou 
from the road. Captain Lynn and his men pro- 
ceeded as rapidly as the brush, briers, and 
bramble would admit to the spot indicated by the 
sounds, arriving just in time to see Jack , Gross and 
his pals vanish into the depths of the jungle. Gross 
had succeeded to the captaincy of the clan when 
Cartwright “ turned up missing ; ” they supposed 
that Cartwright had been killed in the Blassingame 
encounter. 

“Well, boys, we have made a water haul,” said 
Lynn. 

“ I belave they hiv led us into a thrap, an’ they 
now hiv us surrounded, wid a shot to sthroike us 
from ivery bush. The chry iv murther was a de- 
cuy,” said Pat. Dolan. 

“ Call it a ‘ water haul ’ if you like. Cap. ! ” ex- 
claimed Sergeant Wilde. “ Look just to the other 
side of that log and about the middle of the slough. 
See that hat lying against the log in the water? A 
Union officer’s hat, at that — no water haul ! Big 
fish here, but dead.” 

Two men ran out upon the log as far as the hat, 
and reached down into the water and pulled up the 


The Blue and the Gray. 27 

body of a man, which they dragged to the bank and 
examined. 

“ Py sheeminy!” exclaimed Dutch Jake. “Dot 
ish — er vot you call um? Bud Philput, der yokel 
vot dit some information give ’boudt dose yayhaw- 
kins once, ain’d id ? 

“ Sure enough, it is. Poor fellow ! They got 
him soon enough,” replied Lynn. 

The sun was now setting, but a full moon would 
light the way when once out of the swamp. After 
riding well into the hill country, they stopped at a 
farmhouse, threw out pickets, and slept in the barn. 
Before leaving the next morning, they informed the 
landlord of the fate of Philput, and told him where 
the body could be found. They were in their sad- 
dles early, jogging on toward Grenada. Noth- 
ing occurred to excite or interest them until they 
had reached a point a few miles west of Senatobia. 
They were ascending a long hill in the open wood- 
lands — that is, there was no undergrowth to ob- 
struct the view on either side. They were whis- 
tling, jesting, and singing snatches of war and love 
songs. On gaining the top of the hill, the surface 
was level, embracing several acres. Here they be- 
held, advancing from the opposite direction and 
not two hundred yards distant, another cavalcade, 
which proved to be a single company of Confeder- 
ate cavalry. In less time than it takes to write it, 
two opposing lines, the Blue and the Gray, were 
stretched across the road, when, almost instanta- 
neously and simultaneously, two volleys were fired, 
which did very little execution, as the balls sped 
high above the men’s heads. The conflict being a 
complete surprise to both parties, the commands 
hastily given and hurriedly executed, they fired 
with little precision. The next moment the op- 


28 


Luella Blassingame : 


posing forces rushed together with the furious im- 
petuosity of enraged buffaloes. For the space of 
five minutes the battle raged in earnest; the rat- 
tle of pistols, the clash and clang of sabers, the 
neighing of horses, and the shouts and curses of 
men made a horrible din. The Federals were van- 
quished — routed and scattered to the four winds. 
Now, it so happened, or came about through their 
own choice, that the opposing captains became en- 
gaged in a hand-to-hand combat. Equally matched 
in size, age, and swordsmanship, it was a gladiato- 
rial contest fit for the arenas of old. The Confeder- 
ates held the field, but did not interfere nor go to 
the assistance of their leader, and he would not 
have it so. At length Lynn’s right arm dropped 
limp to his side, while a tiny crimson stream trick- 
led down upon the left hand of his antagonist. 
Lynn, realizing that he was hors de combat, reined 
his horse to one side, clamped the rowels to his 
flanks, and dashed away through the forest at a 
speed that left his few pursuers far behind. 

♦ * ♦ 

“ To-day is my birthday, as well as my little sis- 
ter’s anniversary, and I must dine with her,” said 
Capt. Tom Blassingame to his men. “ Come ; I 
must have a bodyguard, or Devil Dick Cartwright 
and his merry men will have me dancing on empty 
air, with a dangling rope above, or my body siz- 
zling at a stake within a circle of burning fagots. 
The following gentlemen will now accompany me 
home as my staff: R. E. Bullington, Rufe Jones, 
J. C. Lancston, C. A. Marshall, A. B. Clifton, and 
J. P. Cox. Lieut. Pat. Myers will now take com- 
mand of the company, see to burying the dead, 


• The Blue and the Gray. 29 

make provision for the wounded of both parties, 
and then proceed to Coldwater Town, where he will 
await our coming to-morrow evening. Fortunately, 
or otherwise, we have no prisoners, except the 
wounded, and they may be attended to later. Colo- 
nel Hatch no doubt has concentrated his forces at 
Grenada, and will now strike a bee line for Mem- 
phis.” 

* * * 

Ernest Lynn had not raced far through the 
woods, when, looking back, he saw that his pur- 
suers had given up the chase and turned to retrace 
their steps. Their horses were jaded by the long, 
forced march from Alabama, while his own Selim 
was comparatively fresh, and a very superior ani- 
mal. He slackened his gait to a walk, reloaded his 
pistol (having dropped his sword upon the field of 
battle), improvised a sling for his aching arm, and 
then resumed a more rapid pace northward. His 
wounded arm was very painful, but he rejoiced that 
he could use it, after the numbness produced by the 
blow had passed away. He was again approaching 
Coldwater Bottom, when he stopped at a log cabin 
(with a shed room in the rear), dismounted, 
and walked in through the open gate. A half 
dozen half-starved, mangy dogs — curs, hounds, 
fices, and mongrels — came tearing out from under 
the house, barking and snarling, raising such an 
uproar that Lynn could scarcely hear himself shout. 
A tow-headed, barefooted boy of fourteen years 
came limping out, with one heel raised from the 
ground. 

Good morning, bud ! Fd like to get — ” 

The dogs broke out afresh every time he spoke. 
The boy ran his thumb under his one homemade 


30 


Luella Blassingame : 


“ gallus,” raising his copperas- breeches to his knee; 
sent a squirt of “ terbaccer ” juice through his 
teeth; and, picking up a dead twig, stormed at the 
dogs : “ You, Jeff. Davis ! Come here, sir 1 ” Then 
he said to the Captain : ‘‘ What did you say, mis- 
ter?” 

“ Who lives here? ” yelled the Captain. 

“Beauregard, git under that house, sir! Bud 
Philput did live here, stranger, but he’s dade now ; 
they brung his body home this mawnin’. You, Bed- 
ford Forrest! Let the gent alone. He’s the all- 
firedest, fightin’est dawg in ther hull lot, an’ — ” 

“ Say, sonny, Fd like to_trouble you for a basin 
of water and a little soap to wash and bathe my 
arm.” 

Mebbe you got er carbuncle on it.” 

“ No ; it is a cut.” 

“ Mammy ! CC mammy ! They gent wants ter 
git er bastin er warter an’ some soap ter scrub his 
arm.” 

A sallow-faced woman, with 'hair unkempt and 
dressed in a tattered black calico, with a twist of 
“ stingy green ” tobacco and a corncob pipe in her 
hand, came to the door, followed by a little brood 
of mottle-faced tatterdemalions, who clung to their 
mother’s skirt and gazed in wild-eyed wonder upon 
the bright uniform of the officer. 

The boy having repeated Lynn’s request to his 
mother, she retorted as follows : “ Bob Lee, you 
know thar ain’t er drap uv warter in this house ; you 
never brung none this mawnin’. Take ther bucket 
this minit an’ go ter ther spring an’ fetch some. 
Lawsy mussy ! I hev so much ter worry me, an’ me 
er-moanin’ fur my man, an’ him now a cawpse in 
ther house, an’ — ’’ 

Bob Lee interrupted her with ; “ I cain’t fetch no 


The Blue and the Gray. 31 

warter wid this stone bruise on my heel ; ’sides that, 
Ave ’hain’t got no bastin (whatever that mout be), 
an’ I seed ther pigs wid ther soap goad under ther 
house las’ week.” 

“Just give me a tin pan or something, and a little 
soap, and show me the spring, and I’ll do the rest, 
madam,” said the Captain. 

“Texanna [a girl of eight or ten years], you 
crawl under ther house an’ see ef you kin find that 
ar goad ! ” 

Texanna found a piece of the gourd, with a thin 
veneering of soap on the inner side. Lynn took it 
and walked about two hundred yards down the hill 
to the spring — merely a stagnant pool, with a green 
scum, and myriad tadpoles disporting themselves in 
the tepid water. He took ofif his coat, and, tucking 
his shirt sleeves up to his shoulder, found that the 
muscle of his arm was slit lengthwise. The blood 
had clotted and dried ; but the lye soap, soft water, 
and vigorous rubbing soon removed it. This done, 
he donned his coat and was in the act of returning 
to the house, when the barking of the dogs up there 
arrested his attention. He saw a horseman in con- 
A^ersation with the boy. Bob Le.e, at the gate. He 
Avaited until the rider galloped off down the road 
in the direction of the swamp. Upon reaching the 
house, Mrs. Philput met him in the yard and asked 
him to walk around to the rear of the house with 
her. Arrived there, she began to talk in a sub- 
dued tone and confidential manner. “Ain’t you 
ther Cap’n of ther ‘Yanks’ whut wus camped in 
Squire Blassingame’s woods lot?” 

Lynn, reasoning that she could have no good 
feeling for the guerrillas, who had murdered her 
husband, answered in the affirmative. 

“ Well, then, Cap’n, I want ter give you warnin’. 


32 


Luella Blassingame : 


’cause I’d walk through fire barefooted ter see them 
vilyuns hung as high as Hamins. Ef they ketch 
you, they’ll brile you at ther stake, er make you 
walk er log out inter ther pon’ an’ shoot you, lack 
they did my man. They murdered him ’cause he 
told you that Cartwright an’ his gang wus goin’ 
ter rob Blassingame an’ his angul darter, which 
you an’ yer men pervented, ’sides puttin’ er stop 
ter Devil Dick’s curreer. They-uns b’lieve that 
you-uns made erway with him by bangin’ er burnin’, 
lack they’d er-done ter you.” 

“ I sent Cartwright to prison in Memphis, Mrs. 
Philput. I do not deny that Union soldiers — that 
is, some of them — are guilty of atrocious crimes ; 
but neither I nor my men ever abuse, much less kill, 
prisoners.” 

“ I b’lieve you, an’ I hear that Lu. Blassingame 
says that ‘ Cap’n Lynn is er gentlemun, ef he is er 
“Yank,”’ an’ she sho’ do hate ‘Yanks’ wuss than 
pisen. But, as I wus perceedin’ ter tell you, that 
wus Glover at ther gate just now. He got wind uv 
you somehow, an’ is spryin’ roun’ an’ reconn’iterin’ 
erbout so’s ter lay er trap fer you. He’s one uv 
ther gang, an’ er bad un, too. He ’cognized yer 
boss at ther gate an’ pumped my boy, R. E. Lee, 
an’ ’tained all ther unformation he could erbout 
you; an’ now he’s gone to their wrong-to-do [ren- 
dezvous] uv ther clan, an’ they’ll lay fer you in 
ther river bottom. They ’specs ter make er raid on 
ther Blassingames ergin,^ too, fer that money — er 
wuss.” 

“ Many, many thanks, Mrs. Philput ! I must be 
moving on now, and I’ll — ” 

“ I’m not done yit ; ther mainest part uv my ’vice 
ter you is ter come. Now, don’t you travel ther 
main road through ther bottom, whutever you do, 


The Blue and the Gray. 


33 


er you’ll never see ther hills beyon’. See ther corn- 
der uv that fiel’ down yander? When you git thar, 
instid uv gwine on ther big road, you jist turn ter 
ther lef’ an’ keep right on roun’ ther fiel’ ter ther 
fur cornder. Thar you’ll find er dim road, which 
will take you right inter er ford on ther river, er 
half er mile below ther bridge. Ther river is low, 
an’ you kin ford it ’thout swimmin’. Now, you jist 
keep on ther same road on ther other side, an’ you’ll 
bring up right square ergin Blassingame’s corn- 
fiel’. Don’t turn ter ther right, which will bring 
you back ter ther public road that goes by ther 
house whar you camped, but you jist m’ander roun’ 
ther fiel’ ter ther lef’ an’ you’ll strike er road runnin’ 
north. This is called ther ‘ Lower Memphis Road,' 
an’ will take you to ther city, ’thout gwine by Her- 
nando an’ all ther public places, whar you’re li’ble 
ter git kotched.” 

My profound thanks and best wishes, Mrs. Phil- 
put. I trust that there are better times and 
brighter days ahead for us all. Good-by! ” 

Lynn followed the directions given him, riding 
at a lively canter. The old, disused road was much 
better than the rotten corduroy and ruts on the 
much-traveled public highway. In his present state 
of acute apprehension and dire solicitude, if his 
arm pained him, he was unconscious of it. It me- 
chanically swung free of its sling, and the hand 
lifted a pistol from its holster and held it firmly, 
ready for immediate use. His mind was full of 
misgivings. Every cypress knee was, to his 
excited vision, a bushwhacker on the watch for 
him. From behind any tree he might be picked 
oflf and thrown to rot in the horrid green waters of 
the swamp, to be reported missing ” — a fate full 
of horror to the brave soldier, who flinches not from 


34 


Lqella Blassingame. 


the thunder of artillery, the rattle of musketry, nor 
the clash of steel. So far as the eye could reach, 
the jungle extended. The multifarious charms and 
lavish embellishings of this sylvan profusion, so 
delightful to his eye on yesterday, were now 
blended into a monochrome of utter dreariness. A 
paralysis of nerve will began to creep over him. It 
seemed hours since he had entered the swamp, 
whereas he had covered the distance — three miles — 
in fifteen minutes. He could have shouted with 
joy when he struck higher ground, with an open 
field and the Bassingame residence in plain view 
upon the eminence at the farther side of the field of 
corn — the same field through which he had once so 
hurriedly ridden. 


CHAPTER IV. 


Now, Mrs. Philpot had instructed Captain Lynn 
to bear around to the left when he came to this 
fence until he should come out into the Lower 
Memphis Road, but Lynn gave way to an irresisti- 
ble desire to once more return to the Blassingame 
home. Dismounting, he let down three or four 
rails from the fence, over which Selim jumped. Re- 
placing the rails, he rode up through the cornfield, 
but more leisurely this time. Reaching the house, 
he rode into the back yard through an open gate. 
A couple of barking dogs came to meet him, and 
Aunt Dilcy came out of the kitchen to call them off. 

“ Come heah, Tige ! ” Aunt Dilcy commanded. 
“ Hain’t you got no sense, Bruno ? Don’t you know 
yer Marse Tom — ” As she suddenly observed the 
blue uniform, her sentence was finished with this 
exclamation: “ De debble! A biggity Linctum 
man! Nebber you min’; Marse Tom sho’ gwine 
ketch )^ou ter-day ef you try ter galervant roun’ dis 
castle,” she muttered as she flounced back into the 
kitchen. 

Lynn then rode around to the front side of the 
house. 

Luella came out: but, the sun being full in her 
eyes, she did not at first recognize the Captain. 

Won’t you get down and come in ? ” she said. 
“ Here, Jim ; take the gentleman’s horse.” 

The sweet Southern intonation of her voice 
thrilled the young man. He admired her splendid 
youth, her easy carriage, the familiar little turn of 


36 


Luella Blassingame: 


the head that bespoke a self-containing power 
and conscious strength. Nothing about her grace- 
ful dignity and impressive presence escaped him. 
Even the out-of-date, though costly, dress she wore 
appealed subtly to his heartstrings and stirred his 
sympathy for the heroines who bore and braved so 
much for a cause dearer than life to them, but which 
he believed must be a lost cause. 

“ It’s your black Republican returned again to 
quarter himself upon his enemy,” laughingly said 
Lynn as he dismounted. The peculiar sparkle that 
came into her eyes he thought adorable. 

“ On this day you are welcome, no matter who 
you are.” 

No exceptions at all, not even a Yankee aboli- 
tionist ? ” asked Lynn. 

“ I think we can make room even for him to-day.” 
Then she added, with that peculiar twinkle: “ I am 
expecting brother Tom and some of his friends to 
join us for three-o’clock dinner. He will be glad 
to meet you.” 

I am afraid I can’t wait here for that pleasure. 
It is now one o’clock, and I have a long ride before 
me. If you’ll kindly give me a piece of bread and 
a bowl of milk. I’ll move on. I am very hungry. 
I have heard much of your gallant brother, and I es- 
teem him highly. I honor such men, wherever 
found, and hope to form his acquaintance some 
time; but just now I have no desire for prison life.” 
His eyes twinkled this time. 

“ Captain Lynn, you are not well. And your 
arm ? I have been so uneasy about — ” She recov- 
ered herself before saying “ you.” “ Did those 
guerrillas attack you ? ” 

Lynn was eating the luncheon which Luella had 
set before him. “ No, Miss Blassingame, the guer- 


The Blue and the Gray. 


37 


rillas did not trouble us. I received this saber cut 
at the hands of a young Confederate captain, who 
engaged me in a bit of the prettiest swordplay that 
has ever come my way.” Thereupon he gave her 
the particulars of the fight that morning. 

“And he — your antagonist — how fared he?” 

“ Unscathed, I think. When he struck my arm, 
I lost my sword. My men were stampeded and 
flying for life and liberty; and being left alone and 
defenseless, I gave Selim free rein, and here we 
are.” 

The Captain could not see her eyes, but her ad- 
miration and sympathy shone therein. 

“ I am so sor — . I must bind your arm and give 
you some liniment — ” 

Aunt Dilcy screamed in the hall : “ De g’rillers 
done coinin’. Miss L’ella ! Da sho’ is ! I ’low da 
gwine ter kill us dis time. O, Lawdy, here da is ! ” 

Many feet came tramping through the hall, the 
dining-room door was flung open, and a brigandish 
crew filed into the room. At their head was Jack 
Gross, or “ Texas Jack,” as he was generally called. 
“ Is this Captain Lynn ? ” he asked, in mock suavity. 

Ernest Lynn inclined his head slightly, in stern 
silence. It was as if an infusion of starch had 
stiffened him suddenly. He well knew that no 
concessions that he might make would save his life, 
and he resolved to show these scoundrels that an 
officer of the army would not stoop to ask mercy 
of them. 

“Are you the man that sent Dick Cartwright to 
Memphis, where he was shot? ’’-asked Jack Gross. 

Lynn again bowed. 

“ Well, Captain Lynn, as a distinguished visitor 
to our community, we desire to do the right thing 
by you ; so we have arranged a little programme for 


38 


Luella Blassingame: 


your entertainment. You might call it a ‘ barbe- 
cue/ I reckon. You are to have the most conspicu- 
ous place at the feast.” 

Luella's eyes went from Jack Gross to Ernest 
Lynn. It needed no divination to tell her that 
there was something tragic in the situation. Lynn’s 
manner and bearing stirred the depths of her ad- 
miration ; his simple, manly words affected her as 
nothing had ever done before. Here was a brave 
man going to his horrible death like a true soldier, 
with neither fear nor bravado. Through all her 
desperate terror for him there ran the thrill of pride 
at his contempt for his pusillanimous captors. She 
felt the hot blood, stirred to white heat by right- 
eous indignation, surge in throbbing beats to her 
temples, while her mind groped wildly for some 
hope of escape. 

“ We’ve been looking forward to this pleasant 
occasion for a right smart while. It appeared like 
Ave could not wait any longer; and as ‘ fortune fa- 
vors the brave,’ we have just dropped in, kind of 
friendly like, to welcome you to our midst. We’ve 
been craving to give you a very warm welcome, and, 
dad blame it, we now intend to do it.” 

“ Surely you are not going to — to hurt him ? ” 
asked Luella, tensely, her eyes dilating fearfully. 

The low, fiendish laugh of Gross echoed through 
the room, and caused Luella to shudder. 

“ We aim to devil him some, don’t we, Glover?” 

Luella looked sympathetically toward Lynn ; and 
she pleaded earnestly with Gross and his men for 
the life of her guest. 

“ No,” drawled Gross ; “ we allow to put him 
out of the way. He has no sense, anyhow. Why 
is he here alone, with no escort? You can get an- 
other sweetheart without any trouble. Since I 


The Blue and the Gray. 


39 


come to think of it, if you’ll bring out the gold and 
silver that your dad or Tom put away, we’ll con- 
sider — ” 

“ No, never ! ” interrupted Lynn, throwing all 
possible emphasis upon the two words. “ You have 
done your best for me, and I thank you from the 
depths of my soul, God only knows how much. 
It is quite useless to ask mercy of these poor, vile 
nondescripts ; neither will money dissuade them. 
Try to think kindly of me sometimes. Had I been 
born and reared in Mississippi, who can say what 
might have been? Even now I feel for you, and 
not for mysfelf. After they shall have done their 
worst for me, they will return for the money. I 
would gladly die, were it to save you. I would not 
thus address you under other circumstances, for I 
know you would forbid me, and a lady’s will is 
law to me.” 

Handing her an envelope with a printed return 
request, he asked : “ Will you write the particulars 
and mail to that address? ” 

Looking into his eyes with all the intensity of a 
mother or sister, she clasped his hand and said : 
“ Yes, I shall write all the particulars, and much 
more : I shall write words that will comfort and 
console those who love you. In this life there are 
barriers to our closer relationship, which I, at least, 
cannot overstep ; but in the life beyond all obstacles 
will be removed and distinctions erased — ” 

“ Now, Captain Lynn, if you are quite ready, 
we’ll have your horse brought to the door, and we 
will conduct you to the festal grounds and sylvan 
shades, and make ready the feast.” 

Ernest Lynn stood erect and unflinching, with 
folded arms, a strange, eager light of victory in 
his countenance. The uplift and thrill that some- 


40 


Luella Blassingame: 


times come to men in deadly peril were surging 
through him. 

Luella tried to speak further, but could not; her 
lips moved, but no audible words escaped them. 
Her brain reeled, and a tremor shook her frame. 

Lynn raised her hand to his lips, led her to the 
door, and said : “ Good-by till we meet above ! You 
must now leave the room.” 

Luella stepped into the hall, Lynn closing the 
door behind her. The. next instant she uttered a 
stifled cry of joyful surprise, which was not noticed 
in the room. 

“ Now, sir,” said Gross, “ if you are feady, we will 
move on. Delays are dangerous, and — ” 

“ I think you had better wait a bit ! ” came in a 
commanding voice, as the door opened and the 
graceful figure of a handsome young Confederate 
officer, with a nonchalant air and holding a navy 
six-shooter, stood in the door. 

“Captain Tom Blassingame!” exclaimed one of 
the clan. 

“At 3^our service I What can I do for you — be- 
fore I hang you? ” 

Lynn, even then, noticed that Tom’s voice had 
the same caressing softness so accentuated in his 
sister’s intonations. 

“ No, I would not attempt to shoot, if I were you, 
Gross. I have an escort at my elbow, if my hon- 
ored guest, Lynn, did not. You see, I have been 
an eavesdropper here in the hall. My comrades 
are at the door. Better lay your guns down on the 
floor over there. There; that’s good! They will 
not go off, accidentally like, now. I have heard 
all you said in this room, as we crept in right be- 
hind you.” 

“ I was just fooling. Captain Tom — funning like 


The Blub and the Gray. 41 

with this Yankee gentleman,” whined Gross, great 
beads of perspiration standing out on his face. 

“You were just funning, eh? Well, I am not. 
That’s the difference between us, my — innocent 
jester.” 

“ Let me off this time. Captain, and I pledge you 
my word and honor to quit jayhawking; it ain’t 
worth while to hold me for trial.” 

“ Ha, ha! Your word of honor may be relied on, 
no doubt ; but I consider it about as reliable as the 
equivocal platitudes enunciated at the Hampton 
Roads conference. To hold you for trial would, in- 
deed, be a waste of time and patience ; so I think 
we will put an end to your brilliant career here and 
now.” 

Tom went to a window and called the boy, Jim, 
who came on the run, his ivories glistening and his 
eyes dancing. “Jim, run down to the quarter and 
tell Eph., Dick, and John to come to me.” 

The Captain then turned to his bodyguard, who 
were conversing with his sister in the hall. “ Come, 
gentlemen ; walk in ! Captain Lynn, these gentle- 
men are my friends and army comrades. I will ask 
Captain Marshall here to act as master of cere- 
monies in my stead, and beg of you to excuse me 
for a few moments. Marshall, introduce the gen- 
tlemen individually; and keep an eye upon our other 
guests here. I’ll send a boy in to remove their 
guns at once.” 

The Captain went out to meet the three black 
men he had summoned. “ Boys,” said he, “ I have 
Jack Gross and his gang in the dining room — my 
prisoners ! ” 

“ Bress de Lawd fer dat! Gwine ter hang ’em, 
ain’t you, Marse Tom? ” 

“ No, I intend to give them a little roast. I have 


2 


42 


Luella Blassingame: 


a job for you, boys, and you can have some great 
sport and at the same time rid yourselves and the 
country of these bad men. W e will give them such 
a scare as will deter them from committing further 
villainies.’* 

“ You cain’t ’ter dem scrapin’s ob perdition, 
young Marse, ’cause when you an’ de Yankee Cap’n 
bofe done gone, dese ripscalyuns gwine ter ’turn 
an’ ’crease der debblement. I done heah how da 
gwine ter roas’ poor ole Marse’s feet ’fore de fire 
an’ punish young Missie ontil da gib ’em a whole 
heap ob money. You don’t ’gin ter know dese bag- 
amonds lack we does.” 

“ O, yes, I do ! And we’ll fix them if you boys 
carry out my instructions.” 

“ Gib de curman’, Marse Tom, an’ we gwine ter 
erbey ter de letter ob de law an’ gos — ” 

“ I know you will. Uncle Eph. But we are los- 
ing time. I have deferred dinner from three o’clock 
to five. I will make my instructions to you as 
plain as possible. Go, first, and procure six trace 
chains and six padlocks. Bring these to the dining 
room and lock a chain around the neck of each of 
the men I will point out to you. Take these men 
into the log smokehouse, draw the chains through 
the cracks and fasten securely on the outside 
of the walls. Next, tie two stout plow lines around 
the waists of Gross and Glover. Take all of the 
boys, or as many as you need, with you, and con- 
duct your prisoners across the field to the old ford 
road in the swamp — ” 

Marse Tom, dem g’rillers sho’ gwine ter cut dem 
ropes wid der knives, an’ den you will hab some 
dead niggers in de cawnfiel’, I tell you p’intedly.” 

We will search them and take their knives and 
everything else from them. You must not bind 


The Blue and the Gray. 


43 


their hands or feet. Follow the old road to the 
first slough, thence down the slough to the old 
turkey pen. Tie each of your men to a tree facing 
each other. This done, gather a lot of dry leaves 
and brush and pile it up in front of each one ; set 
fire to the outer edges of the piles of sticks, and let 
it gradually burn up to the men. You can then sit 
down and watch matters. You must not otherwise 
abuse your prisoners ; and, as I told you before, do 
not tie their hands or feet.” 

“ We sho' gwine ter ’ply wid dese ’structions,” 
said Uncle Eph. 

Captain Tom returned to the house and addressed 
Gross and Glover in a cold, hard, determined voice : 
“ Since you two gentlemen just dropped in to 
make a friendly call and to invite my guest to at- 
tend a little barbecue, I am glad that I arrived in 
time to take upon myself the hospitality which you, 
my considerate neighbors, had essayed to dispense 
in my absence. I have, however, thought it best to 
change the programme somewhat. Captain Lynn 
generously relinquishes all precedence in the matter 
of guest of honor at the feast, and in your favor, 
and heartily joins me in extending to you the very 
warm welcome you had intended for him.” 

The two wretches quaked until the China rattled 
upon the table. 

“As for these six poor, deluded wretches, who 
have long been my neighbors, they must wait for 
the second table at this feast. In the meantime I 
have prepared a place for their comfort.” Stepping 
to the door, he called : “ Come, boys ! ” 


CHAPTER V. 


The three brawny black men, dropping their hats 
at the door, entered the room, with the chains and 
locks, and the six men were securely fastened in 
the smokehouse quicker than I can write it. This 
done, Captain Tom and the three negroes reentered 
the dining room, while a dozen black men stood 
just outside in the yard. The ropes were securely 
tied around the waists of Gross and Glover. Then a 
thorough search in their pockets brought out huge 
pocketknives, dirks, and pocket pistols, besides 
tobacco, greenback, etc. The cries, prayers, and 
promises of these cravens can be better imagined 
than. told. . 

Captain Tom addressed them as follows: “Jack 
Gross, your father was an honorable and highly 
respected citizen of Panola County, this State, and 
as such he is now esteemed in Texas, his present 
home. He even believes now that his boy is nobly 
and honorably battling for those principles held so , 
dear by his own Southland. Why — O, why! — have I 

you brought this disgrace upon his gray hairs? J 
You have been the worst of the lot, excepting Cart- 
wright only. As for you, Glover, we know noth- 
ing about you, except that you are from Kansas, 
but — move out, boys, with your guests ! ” . 

“ Yes, sar, Marse Tom, yer mos’ rebedient — ” 

The dozen or more black men immediately sur- 
rounding Gross and Glover pushed and pulled 
their prisoners through the back gate, and marched 
them down through the cornfield, followed by a 


.The Blue and the Gkay. 


45 


black army, embracing both sexes of all sizes and 
ages, Aunt Dilcy, who could not leave her dinner, 
and Jim, the house boy, alone being detained. 

Aunt Dilcy stood upon the back gallery, shading 
her eyes with her hand, watching the procession, 
while Jim mounted the back fence. “Shoo, now! 
I wush I could go erlong an’ be er speckletater ob 
de ’citin’ inforniance dat gwine to inspire down 
dar,” said Aunt Dilcy. 

“Jis’ whut us gits by er-bein’ uppity niggers an’ 
stayin’ up heah at de big house,” said Jim. “ Com- 
mon niggers kin go, while us is so much importance 
dat us cain’t leab de house. Well, one fing fer 
sho’ : De bottom rail done clam on top ob de fence ; 
nigger gwine ter hang white man.” 

“ Shet yo mouf, Jim ! You fool nigger, you don’t 
know whut you’re talkin’ erbout. Sich po’ white 
truck as dem g’rillers has allers been de bottom rail 
— an’ a mighty rotten un, at dat. No ’spectable 
nigger eber 'scend to ekalize wid sich trash ; you 
heah me? ” 

Tom, catching something of their colloquy and 
seeing their wistful eyes, called out : “ Go, Dilcy — 
you and Jim! You’ll get there in time. But first, 
Jim, bring our horses to the front (they are still 
saddled) ; and then go to the barn and saddle Cap- 
tain Lynn’s horse and bring him around, too.” 

In a few minutes Aunt Dilcy and Jim were half- 
way across the field, running a nip-and-tuck race 
for the swamp forest beyond. 

“ Now, gentlemen,” said Tom, “ we are in for 
some rich fun and rare sport. We cannot afford to 
miss this treat and let the darkies have it all to 
themselves. Captain Lynn, you must enact the 
role of the guerrilla and play a desperate lone hand. 
Come, sister ! ” 


46 


Luella Blassingame: 


Luella, who had retired to her room for a little 
relaxation and composure, came quickly in answer 
to her brother’s call. 

Tom said to her: “Sis., run and bring my 
other gray coat (the overcoat, I mean), my slouch 
hat, and a red bandanna handkerchief ; and say, sis- 
ter, get those false whiskers I wore in our parlor 
theatricals last Christmas.” 

The articles desired were readily produced by his 
accommodating sister. 

“ Now, Lynn,” said Tom, “ pull this coat on over 
yours and button it up ; set this cowboy sombrero 
on your ‘ topknot ’ — that’s it, give the hat a dare- 
devil tilt; and throw the handkerchief about your 
neck. Are your whiskers securely fastened? 
Please see that the strings are properly adjusted 
about his head and neck, sister Lu. ; that looks all 
right (you need not hug his neck, sister mine).” 

This sally brought a crimson flush to Luella’s 
cheeks and brow and a merry laugh from the com- 
pany, who were all choice friends and familiar as- 
sociates of the family. The disguise was complete ; 
the transformation was astounding. 

“ He beats the dandiest guerrilla all hollow,’’ 
declared Rufe Jones. 

“An ideal Italian brigand,” added Correlle Lancs- 
ton. 

“A plumed knight of the tourney,” chimed in 
Dick Bullington, as Luella pinned up one side of 
the hat with a long, drooping ostrich plume. 

“ Sir Walter Raleigh and Queen Elizabeth,” sug- 
gested Lum. Marshall, as Lynn raised his plumed 
hat and, with the grace of an accomplished courtier, 
bowed low to Luella. 

“ Now, Lynn, you want to sling this belt around 
you and drop your pistols in the scabbards. Gen- 


The Blue and the Gray. 


47 


tlemen, equip yourselves as for battle. Lynn, we 
will all ride together as far as the slough as quietly 
as possible. Our road lies half a mile north of the 
^ barbecue ’ ground. There you will dismount, 
leaving your horse with us, and creep through the 
swamp afoot, and approach as near as you can to 
the negroes and their prisoners without being seen 
by them. Secrete yourselves in the bushes, and lie 
low until you see a white handkerchief hoisted 
above the dense thicket about one hundred yards 
north of the scene of action. Then you are to rush 
out into the open, utter a yell, fire your pistols, and 
cut the ropes which bind those fellows to the trees. 
Of course the negroes will be terror-stricken and 
stampeded. Then you are to get out of that coat 
and whiskers, toss them in the thicket, and mount 
your horse and ride with us. We will ride up as 
stealthily as possible to the thicket where you will 
see the signal.” 

When our party arrived within sight of the bound 
wretches, they were writhing, stamping, and 
endeavoring to rub the fire out with their hands, 
as it caught the bottoms of their trousers and pro- 
ceeded to blaze upward (their hands, arms, and feet 
were not bound). They prayed, begged, and swore 
by turns, cursing the “Yanks,” “ Rebs,” and their 
own comrades in crime ; swore at each other ; and, 
above all, the very acme of profanity was reached, 
the ambient atmosphere had a sulphurous odor, 
and the umbrageous forest quaked, when they 
turned the full torrent of their imprecations upon 
Blassingame and Lynn. They offered bribes, 
prayers, and threats by turns to the negroes ; but 
all to no purpose. The darkies looked on with 
stolid complacency, answering them only with gibes, 
jeers, hoots, and scoffs, and adding fresh fuel and 


48 


Luella Blassingame: 


stirring the fire. From his view point Tom saw 
that the flames were beginning to eat into the flesh 
of the men’s legs, and he hoisted his handkerchief 
upon a fishing pole. 

With a blood-curdling yell, Lynn sprang forward, 
firing his pistols as he came on the run ; the negroes 
ran like “ skeered niggers ” for the cornfield and 
home ; Gross and Glover, finding themselves free 
for locomotion, stood not upon the order of moving, 
but moved with astonishing alacrity, which was 
accelerated by Tom and his companions, who pur- 
sued them, shooting and yelling. It was neither 
their purpose nor desire to catch them ; they wanted 
to scare them out of the country, which they evi- 
dently did, for Gross and Glover were never again 
seen in Mississippi. 

“ Gentlemen,” said Lynn, as they rode back to the 
house, “ do you know that my inner man as well as 
my outer man participated in the repulsive trans- 
formation I assumed? When I dashed out to re- 
lease those culprits, an instantaneous, almost irre- 
sistible impulse to sever their heads from their 
bodies possessed me. It was only transitory, it is 
true ; but it goes to show the influence of circum- 
stances, environment, and even the character of 
one’s apparel.” 

That is so,” replied Clifton. “ I somehow have 
a better opinion of myself, and can face the world 
with more of self-confidence in seeking a favor or 
repelling a wrong, when attired in a neat business 
suit or dress coat, instead of brogans and overalls , 
and yet it should not be so.” 

“Just look at the ‘ coons ’ splitting the wind across 
that cornfield ! ” exclaimed Jones. 

“ Yes,” resumed Lynn, “ conditions and circum- 
stances have much to do with molding and directing 


The Blue and the Gray. 


49 


the trend of life. War, at best, is demoralizing, 
blunting the finer sensibilities and rendering us in- 
different to, if not actually causing us to gloat over, 
the poverty, defeat, and even death, of our antago- 
nist.’’ 

“ This unconcern follows naturally in the wake 
of war,” said Lancston. “ Soldiers who were kind 
and gentle at home, whose souls were attuned to 
the higher symphonies and tenderer emotions, be- 
come callous to the sight of suffering and the 
horrors of carnage ; and, applying the adage, ‘All’s 
fair in war,’ they are prone to avail themselves of 
the advantages of expediency, to the disregard of 
the principle of right, even in time of peace. It 
will require more than one generation to eliminate 
the gorge of immorality engendered by this war.” 

“ Now,” said Lynn, “ in this fratricidal strife we 
are presumably fighting to sustain principles about 
which our representative statesmen differ. But we 
of the rank and file in the army too often run riot 
against our brother, who just as consistently op- 
poses us. With a better acquaintance and the in- 
terchange of opinions between the great common- 
alty of the two sections of our people, the matter 
of difference would soon be settled amicably, if the 
question were left to them.” 

“ Spoken like a man and a patriot ! ” exclaimed 
Blassingame. “ Shake ! ” extending his hand. 
“ You and I had a rattling go, vi et armis, this morn- 
ing, which, 1 am sure, inured to our respect for 
each other, and, I may add, our friendship, in so far 
as we personally are concerned.” 

“ You certainly did make a deep and lasting im- 
pression upon me,” laughingly rejoined Lynn, tap- 
ping his right arm. 

“ Honors were even with us. Captain. My left 


50 


Luella Blassingame: 


arm has a mark that I shall ever point to with hon- 
orable pride. But your escape — that was a bril- 
liant coup, and that horse of yours is a wonder.’^ 

“Yes, Selim is a noble boy,” replied Lynn, pat- 
ting the horse’s neck, which rose to a yet prouder 
arch, his luminous eye expressing intelligent appre- 
ciation. “ T am puzzled, though, to know how you 
knew ni}^ name when you found me held in durance 
vile, with an unsavory roast in immediate anticipa- 
tion.” 

“ By your name upon your sword hilt. Further- 
more, Mrs. Philput hailed us, as we were passing* 
her gate, and told us more in five minutes than 
I can repeat in an hour. But here we are at the 
house again. I don’t know how you all find the 
inner man, but there is an aching void inside my 
belt that would welcome a generous ration of hard- 
tack and desicated mule. Dismount and storm the 
castle, sir knights ! ” 

Turning to the house boy. Captain Tom said : 
“Jim, stable the horses, and feed them well. Call 
the boys to help you curry ; and as soon as the 
horses have done eating, turn them into the Ber- 
muda pasture.” 

The toilets of the men were made with alacrity, 
and the bell called them to the dining room. Aunt 
Dilcy had left the pots and pans to participate 
in the frolic. Domestic qualities, however, were 
not the least of a Southern lady’s accomplishments, 
and Luella was no exception. She now stood at 
the head of the table, with the gracious mien, quiet 
dignity, and perfect equipoise so natural to those in 
her station. 

“ Captain Lynn, please take the chair on sister’s 
right; Marshall, the chair opposite Lynn; the other 
gentlemen will arrange themselves on either side ; 


The Blue and the Gray. 51 

and ril go foot. Brother Bullington will please 
ask the blessing,’’ said Tom. 

This was said to the great relief of at least one 
individual. Aimt Dilcy stood just without, in the 
little hall between the dining room and the kitchen, 
on the qui vive to catch some compliment for the 
“ quality ” dinner which she had prepared, and she 
muttered: “Hit’s jes’ natchelly er scanel an’ er 
shame how Marse Tom jes’ keeps on er-splaver- 
caten an’ er-repatiaten wid his inferluten langwidge, 
an’ dinner gittin’ col’, an’ dem gentelum e’en ermos’ 
as hongry as ravenin’ wolves.” 

But Aunt Dilcy heard enough to cause her heart 
to rise with pardonable pride; for the dinner was 
indeed “ fit for an ipercune,” as she had expressed it, 
and it was generously discussed, orally as well as 
gastronomically. 


CHAPTER VI. 


It was just such a dinner as this company had 
been accustomed to “ befo’ de war,” but difficult of 
procurement now. In addition to the turkey and 
all the substantials and luxuries of the farm, there 
were tropical fruits, nuts, confections, and many 
delicacies, obtainable only in the cities. Tom 
looked upon these in bewilderment, and then in- 
quisitively at his sister ; but her face did not “ spell ” 
a thing. When, at a signal and soft-spoken order 
from her, the girls in waiting removed the gentle- 
men’s plates and immediately returned, serving the 
banqueters with ice cream, berries, and cake, Tom 
could no longer restrain his astonishment. 

“ Sis., where in the world have you been — to 
Memphis? Have you turned blockader?” 

“ O, no, brother mine ! ” replied Luella. ‘‘ But we 
have a good, thoughtful friend and neighbor who 
does run the blockade. He thought of our anni- 
versary, stopped his wagons at the gate yes- 
terday morning, sent the boxes containing these 
delicacies and the block of ice up to the house, 
and said that I must accept them. I am more than 
glad that I did so, since he was held up and robbed 
down at the bridge : and those guerrillas would not 
have overlooked these sweets. By the way. Cap- 
tain Lynn, I sent the money (the money which you 
recovered from Cartwright) to Mr. Sowell this 
morning ; but he returned it and sent with it a note 
saying that he would not receive it, that he did not 
need it, that it was already entered up as an item 


The Blue and the Gray. 


53 


in the profit-and-loss account of his hazardous busi- 
ness, and requested me to use it as I saw fit. He 
added that there were poor women and children 
whose husbands and fathers were in the army, etc.” 

“ Seemingly a peculiar character ; I am interested 
in him,” quoth Lynn. 

“ He is — and a good man withal,” said Captain 
Tom. “ He owns large real estate, and, infer- 
entially, has considerable money. He is an ardent 
Union man, but says and does nothing to irritate 
— much less, do harm to — his neighbors or the cause 
for which they stand ; in fact, he has done much 
good in a quiet way, and anonymously in most in- 
stances. He has an only son and a son-in-law, 
both in the Southern army. He goes with his cot- 
ton-laden wagons to Memphis, hauls goods back, 
and miraculously escapes serious loss or harm, 
though the soldiers of both armies — and, worse than 
all, the cotton burners and guerrillas — are ever an 
open menace to him.” 

Toothpicks and cigars were passed, and the gen- 
tlemen repaired to the library. 

* 

“ Marse Tom, a gentelum ’sires ter see you at de 
gate.” 

Tell him to come in, Jim.” 

‘‘ I did, sar ; biu he say he hain’t time.” 

“ It’s John B. West,” said Polk Cox, looking out. 

Then they all walked hurriedly out to the gate. 

“Alight, Johnnie, and come in ! ” said Tom. 

“ I would like to do so,” said West, “but I am 
the bearer of a message from Captain Myers, and 
he desired a reply at once. Howdy?” raising his 
hat and looking to the house. 

“ Do run in and get a bite to eat, Mr. West! I 


54 Luella Blassingame : 

will surprise you, perhaps.” This invitation came 
from Luella. 

‘ Duty before pleasure,^ Miss Lu. That is a 
hard adage to adopt in some cases, and the present 
occasion is an especially trying one ; but I must 
deny myself the pleasure, nevertheless. Captain 
Myers commands me to say to you. Captain Tom. 
that Hatch, with his entire command, will leave 
Grenada for Memphis to-morrow morning. Ah, 
Miss Lu., what have we here ? My stars ! I’ve 
seen nothing like this since — er — the fall of Mem- 
phis.” 

“ Say no more, but eat ! ” commanded the young 
lady, who had brought a waiter — bearing cream, 
cake, oranges, nuts, etc. — and set it upon the tall 
mounting block, about which the gentlemen were 
grouped. 

“As Hatch’s force will likely pass through Cold- 
water Town, and being entirely too formidable for 
our little squad to oppose, Pat. Myers instructed 
me to suggest to you the propriety of his moving 
with the company to Ingram’s Mill.” 

West managed to say this by snatches between 
bites of “ goodies.” 

“A good idea, I think ; I have all confidence in 
the judgment and discretion of Myers and — [see- 
ing West’s questioning look as his eye fell upon 
Lynn, in his blue uniform] I beg your pardon, gen- 
tlemen. This is Sergeant West, Captain Lynn. 
Captain Lynn fell into our hands accidentally.” 

“And now you have an elephant on your hands,” 
laughed Lynn. 

“ I really do not know how to dispose of you,” 
replied Blassingame. “Johnnie, my compliments 
to Myers, and say to him that we will try to rejoin 
him at Ingram’s Mill to-morrow evening.” 


The Blue and the Gray. 


55 


West raised his hat, saying: “ Miss Lu., for this 
rare treat accept my very best thanks.” Then he 
galloped away. 

The gentlemen strolled about the grounds until 
their cigars were finished. 

“ I must say that you have a choice lot of men, 
Blassingame, presuming these gentlemen to be 
members of your company.” 

“ Yes, I have a magnificent company, but these 
and those whom you met in our little scrimmage this 
morning are not all my men. Marshall is captain 
of commissary for Col. W. L. Duff, but he invaria- 
bly puts on the spurs, etc., when there is occasion ; 
Bullington and Clifton are with Captain Raines; 
while the other three are of my company. When 
General Forrest, who is in Alabama with more im- 
portant work in hand, ordered me to return to Mis- 
sissippi with a company of men to harass the en- 
emy as much as possible, he permitted me to pick 
my men, regardless of the companies to which they 
belonged. I selected men not only for their known 
courage, activity, and superior mounts, but because 
they all reside in North Mississippi and are familiar 
with the topography ; while many of my own men 
live in other States, some of them being Kentuck- 
ians and my playmates in childhood.” 

* ♦ * 

Returning to the house and entering the parlor, 
Lancston seated himself at the piano, and the never- 
grow-old symphonies of “ Home, Sweet Home,” 
were soon filling the room and circumjacent am- 
bient. Luella entered the room, and he rose and 
led her to the instrument. She was an accom- 
plished pianist for those days, and was also a vocal- 
ist of rare attainment, and she now favored them 


56 


Luella Blassingame: 


with many of the popular songs and instrumental 
pieces of the day. Her technic was finished, but 
the power of her music lay more in the soul-in- 
spiring afflatus, which rolled in mellifluent waves 
from her throat and finger tips, than from her artis- 
tic execution In some of the songs Lynn’s full, 
round bass and Marshall’s ringing tenor added 
strength, volume, and harmony. She then rattled 
off some “ rag-time ” pieces, when Lynn picked up a 
guitar ; Bullington, a violin ; Marshall, a clarinet ; 
and were tuning them, when Tom asked : “ Where 
are my bones, sister? Ah, here they are! Say, 
don’t you gentlemen play something?” 

‘‘ I do not,” said Cox ; “ but if you happen to have 
a tambourine for Jones and a flute for Lancston, 
your orchestra will be complete.” 

Soon the room was resonant with surging melo- 
dies. Cox and Clifton were silent listeners, and 
Jones noticed that they kept their faces constantly 
to the open windows, and were intently looking out 
into the bright moonlight. He, too, approached 
the window and discovered the attraction. An 
old-time dance was in progress in the yard. Black 
uncles and aunties, young men and young women, 
and picaninnies of all sizes were obeying the com- 
mands of the caller : “ Swing cornders ! ” “ Bal- 
unce all ! ” ‘‘ Sashay ter yer pardeners I ” in the 
smooth -packed yard. They kept up the same 
quickstep and double shuffle and “cut the pigeon 
wing,” regardless of the time or measure of the 
music : whether it was “ The Last Rose of Sum- 
mer,” “ Dixie,” or “ Bobbing Around,” it was all 
the same to them. Mobile they danced, they were 
also improvising and crooning a song, the refrain 
running as follows : 


The Blue and the Gray. 


57 


Massa Tom done come, 

Massa ‘ Yank ’ in line, 

An’ de g’riller done gon 
Where de woodbine twine; 

O, nigger, ain’t yer happy? — say! 

* Hs 'M 

Luella favored the company with a soprano 
solo, Lancston playing the piano accompani- 
ment; Lynn followed with his rich barytone, ex- 
pressive of the sailor’s encomium upon his lassie, 
“ Nancy Lee;” Lancston contributed some humor- 
ous monologues, which made their usual hit; while 
Jones brought down the house by his delineations 
of negro character, dialect recitations, banjo pick- 
ing, and jig dancing. 


* * s}; 

A knock at the back door was answered by Cap- 
tain Blassingame, who found Eph., his head servant 
and plantation foreman, standing , at the door. 
‘‘ Marse Tom, arter axin’ you ter ’scuse de perti- 
nence ob de ’trusion ob yer mos’ rebedient sarbent, 
I begs ter reform you dat de men in de smokehouse 
am gitten ’streperous, sayin’ dat da as well be hung 
as ter hab ter die fer de lack ob sus’nance fer de 
body. I ’spec da is nachelly hongry, bein’ as da 
got none ob de barbecue.” 

That is so. Uncle Eph. Go around to the 
kitchen and tell Aunt Dilcy to fill a bucket with 
good eatables for the fellows, and take it to them, 
with a lighted candle. I will be out there directly.” 

When Tom approached the smokehouse, he found 
the six wretches crunching the toothsome viands 
ravenously. How fare you, gentlemen?” he 
asked. 

“ Sumptously, Cap’n Tom, at the present time — 


58 


Luella Blassingame: 


thet is, as to our bodies, but our minds are very on- 
easy about what you intend ter do with us/’ 

“ W ell, have you thought about what you would 
do in the future, provided you were at liberty ? *’ 
asked Tom. 

‘‘ Yes, sir; we hev decided thet pervided you’d 
give us a chance, thet we-uns would live honest, 
peaceable lives, ’ceptin’ we’d be conscriped inter the 
Confederate Army; then we-uns would fight the 
‘ Yanks,’ of course. We-uns wus tired of this busi- 
ness, anyhow, but couldn’t quit, ’cause we wus 
afeared of the scoundrels. Gross an’ Glover. See 
whut they done ter poor Bill Philput, an’ we-uns 
had ter help murder him.” 

“ I mus’ ’stantiate whut da norates ter you, Marse 
Tom, ’cause I heah dem tabulatin’ ’mong demselves 
ter-night when da thought I done gone ’way ter de 
big house; an’ da all ’greed ’mong da lone selves 
ter ’duct demselves jes’ lack da splanifies ter you 
now,” said Eph. 

After hearing what Uncle Eph. had to say. Cap- 
tain Tom said: “My friends, you all live in this 
county; you were once good citizens, and you can 
be such again. Gross and Glover doubtless in- 
veigled you into this nefarious business. They are 
— gone. -Now, I shall intrust you with your free- 
dom, for I believe you mean what you say; and if 
you stand to your resolution and promise, I will 
stand by you. Eph., unfasten them, and then you 
and Dick go to the barn with them and assist them 
in getting their horses out. For the present I will 
retain your arms, as well as the horses and accouter- 
ments of Gross and Glover.” 

As Tom entered the hall upon his return to the 
house, he met his father, who was being wheeled 
to the parlor in his invalid’s chair. This erstwhile 


The Blue and the Gray. 


59 


“ Kentucky colonel ” was now a confirmed para- 
lytic, and the malady had also impaired his mind. 
Tom took the chair, dismissing the boy who rolled 
it, and pushed it into the parlor. Luella arose and 
approached the chair, and, laying her hand upon her 
father’s silvery locks, said : “And you did decide to 
come at last, papa? I am so glad you did! ” 

“Yes; I must go out to the races, or there’ll be 
some jockeying to swindle my Fleetfoot out of the 
stakes. In a fair-and-square put down, on a mile 
course, that colt of mine can simply show the soles 
of his slippers to the swiftest thing in Kentucky. 
Just ask Harvey Waterson or Andrew Jackson 
about it.” 

“ Father,” said Tom, “ you know all these gentle- 
men, with the exception of Captain Lynn, whom I 
now present.” 

“ I am truly proud to clasp the hand of the hon- 
ored sire of so noble a son ! ” warmly exclaimed 
Ernest Lynn. 

“Arthur Lynn — why, I know him much better 
than I know these other boys. Many’s the day Ar- 
thur and I have ridden to hounds in the blue grass. 
But he went to Ohio and married [Mr. Blassingame 
was wandering drowsily]. Jim, tilt my chair; I’m 
sleepy now.” 

“ He knew my father,” said Ernest; and the re- 
mark seemingly passed unnoticed. 

“ Please roll father to his room, brother. Gen- 
tlemen, may your dreams contain more pleasure 
than your waking hours. Good night ! ” And Lu- 
ella retired for the night. 

“ Gentlemen,” said Tom, “ methinks it about time 
that Morpheus were wooing us to follow sister’s 
example — seek the solace found in ‘ tired nature’s 
sweet restorer.’ ” 


60 Luella Blassingame: 

'‘A few words from me first, Captain,” interjected 
Lynn. “We know that the exigencies of war are 
arbitrary, and its vicissitudes must be met. As I 
remarked to-day, I am an elephant on your hands. 
Your plans for to-morrow are laid, and a miscar- 
riage may work disastrous results. Great events 
sometimes hinge upon very small pivots. I am an 
incumbrance to you. When that clock shall have 
finished the twelfth-hour stroke to-night, I will no 
longer be a soldier, but a plain, private citizen, 
with his domicile in the State of Ohio. Here are my 
commission and other papers, showing that the 
time for which I enlisted ends with the close of to- 
day. I made application for my discharge before 
leaving Memphis, and will receive it upon my re- 
turn to that city, which I had hoped to do to-mor- 
row. Henceforth I shall never voluntarily take 
up arms against my brothers in a war of aggres- 
sion.” 

The papers spoke for themselves, and none could 
doubt Lynn’s statement as to his future conduct. 
At least two of the company, Blassingame and Mar- 
shall, reposed implicit confidence in his words, be- 
cause in the little conversation that followed, 
though to the uninitiated, there was nothing pecul- 
iar in the phraseology, to those of the Masonic fra- 
ternity, it bore a power of mystic meaning. They, 
one and all, grasped his hand by turns, expressing 
their high esteem for him and wishing him a safe re- 
turn to his home and a long and happy life. 

Captain Blassingame stepped out into the hall 
and gave the call bell a resounding ring. Jim ap- 
peared the next minute. “Jim, tell Aunt Dilcy to 
have breakfast by five o’clock in the morning for 
eight gentlemen; and tell the girls that they must 
not awake nor disturb Miss Lu. until her usual time 


The Blue and the Gray. 


61 


for rising. Then go to the barn and give our 
horses, including Captain Lynn’s horse, more hay. 
Get up at four o’clock in the morning, call the boys 
to help you, give the horses a light feed, rub them 
down well, saddle them, and bring them to the 
rack. And say, Jim, tell Uncle Eph. to come to me 
at once.” 

The trusted foreman of the plantation soon ap- 
peared, and Captain Blassingame said : “ Uncle 
Eph., I have ever had the utmost confidence in 
your faithful performance of every duty enjoined 
upon you ; in fact, the conduct of all my colored 
people since the beginning of this war has been 
such as to confirm my belief in their fidelity to me 
and mine ; but some of these Northern soldiers have 
been talking to you recently, and have doubtless 
put strange notions into your head, and — ” 

“ ’Sense de int’ruption, Marse Tom, but I ’teci- 
pate whut you gwine ter infer to. Some ob dem 
lick-skillet bluecoats did ’tempt ter ’suade we-uns 
ter ’migrate an’ p’ramberlate ter Memphis; but 
Cap’n Lynn— he say, ‘ You people jes’ ’main in 
statu cole’ which we mos’ p’intedly ’termine ter do, 
swim or die, sink or perish — ” 


CHAPTER VIL 


“ Well, Uncle Eph., I thought so. Now, I will 
leave home by daybreak in the morning, but may 
return with my men at any time. In the mean- 
time I shall leave you in charge of the farm as be- 
fore, subject only to the direction and supervision 
of sister. Furthermore, you and several of the boys 
can handle firearms ; so sister will provide you with 
such as you may need — that is, five or six of you. 
These guns you must hide about your cabins ; and 
should any small band of robbers attack my fa- 
ther’s house, you are to go to the rescue. You six 
men must ever be on the watch, day and night, for 
marauders; and should you at any time need reen- 
forcements, you may call the other boys to the 
house, where Miss Luella will arm them at her dis- 
cretion. You will keep a lookout for the ‘ Yanks ’ 
and carry the horses and mules to the swamp as 
usual.” 

“Yes, sar; Fse ter be de ’mander in chief ob de 
forces, an’ — ” 

“ Yes — with the exception that, whenever possi- 
ble, you must apply to your young mistress for di- 
rections; but in emergencies you must do the best 
you can, but never act rashly. Sister Lu. will talk 
to you more about it.” 

Captain Blassingame then entered the library and 
wrote a note to his sister explaining the unexpected 
revelation of Captain Lynn and informing her that 
they would all leave the house early in the morn- 
ing. He then placed the note conspicuously against 


The Blue and the Gray. 63 

the parlor mirror. The gentlemen then repaired to 
their sleeping apartments. 

* * * 

As the advance glow of the solar rays was just 
lifting the sable curtain of night above the horizon, 
the little cavalcade rode out through the big gate 
into the road, and headed northward. 

“ How far do you ride with me ? ” asked Lynn. 

“As far as Hernando, at least — about eight miles,’' 
replied Captain Tom. “ Then, if we suspect that 
it would be hazardous , for you to proceed alone 
to Memphis, we will accompany you farther on the 
way. Colonel Blythe’s men might detain you. Be- 
sides, a gang of guerrillas might run up on you ; 
you know that Nopconnah Bottom is equally as 
well adapted to their business as Coldwater 
Swamp.” 

“ Yes, quite a number of our men, with good 
horses, have ' turned up missing ’ in that bottom, 
and almost under the guns of our pickets. But, my 
friend, it is putting you to great inconvenience, be- 
sides delaying your reunion with your command.” 

“ Say no more. Cap. We will make the round 
trip in due time; the boys do not expect us before 
evening.” 

“ You have a fine country, Blassingame, and it 
must have been in a prosperous condition when 
this war came on ; but it does seem to me that, out- 
side of the river bottoms, it is better adapted to the 
growing of grain and grasses than the production 
of cotton, and yet even your worn and washed hill- 
sides are run to cotton.” 

“We can do nothing else with the character of 
our labor, Lynn. Now, you might come down 
from Ohio, with your efficient hired men, and you 


64 


Luella Blassingame : 


would starve raising cotton. With your white la- 
bor you could come to this country and succeed by 
raising stock and grain, for you would have a mar- 
ket at your door. With such labor, it would be 
expedient and profitable for me to devote this entire 
farm to the production of farm supplies, to the ex- 
clusion of cotton. It would be an immense saving 
to furnish from this place those supplies for our 
Mississippi River plantation, where we raise noth- 
ing but cotton.” 

‘‘ Then, why do you not reverse the order here ? ” 

“ Simply because the negro knows nothing but 
cotton ; he mechanically plods along the cotton 
rows as the mules do. He does not work intelli- 
gently. He has no snap, vim, nor initiative; he can 
imitate after a fashion, but he. cannot originate nor 
execute independently of a master hand and mind. 
Hence, diversified farming is impracticable with 
us.” 

“ How would it be with freed negroes, think 
you ? ” 

‘‘A disastrous venture, I fear.” 

“ It occurs to me that you might send your ne- 
groes to the all-cotton plantations in the bottoms 
and run your home places with white labor.” 

‘‘ You do not understand the situation here, Lynn. 
The poor white people of the South — those who 
must labor to live — are averse to working upon the 
farm for hire ; they look upon it as the very depth 
of degradation. They will strive to eke out a pre- 
carious living upon their own poor little farms, or 
rent land and struggle on in the hopeless endeavor 
to better their condition. Those who are a little 
better fixed, owning from one dozen to three or 
four dozen slaves, think that it would disgrace them 
to work ; that it would disparage their standing in 


The Blue and the Gray. ()5 

society to turn a hand to manual labor. You will 
find that most of our sons of large planters have 
demonstrated the dignity of labor by personal per- 
formance, and that in case of emergency we are 
equipped for the fray. I have plowed from sunrise 
to sunset, day after day, during most of my life ; 
have wielded the hoe many a long, hot day, while 
the negroes followed, singing their plantation 
songs ; and with a little practice to harden me, I 
could now cut and split rails with the best of them. 
As to our sisters, they have been educated and 
drilled in everything pertaining to housekeeping 
and home making, and are neither afraid nor 
ashamed to put it into practice.’' 

“ I have thought that, with the emancipation of 
your slaves, the ensuing conditions would be pe- 
culiarly trying to all, but more especially to the 
ladies,” said Lynn. 

“As I said before, our sisters and mothers are 
prepared for such a catastrophe, and will uncom- 
plainingly make the best of the situation.” 

We, at the North, hold many erroneous opin- 
ions concerning the South, though my father, now 
long dead, said that they could not be true. We 
were taught that your wealthy families were as ex- 
clusive in their social isolation as royalty itself ; 
that a lady could not so much as lace her own shoes 
in an emergency ; that the poor whites were ab- 
ject serfs; and that every slave owner was a tyrant 
and his overseer was only an instrument of torture 
for the wretched negro. But my eyes have been 
opened. How about your bloodhounds? I have 
not yet seen one.” 

“ There is no such dog as bloodhound in this 
country. The common, everyday hound is some- 
times trained to run men, but not one in a hundred 


66 Luella Blassingame: 

of them ever becomes interested in the work, be- 
cause they are not allowed to bite the people used 
in training them. The bloodhound is a fabrication 
of the splenetic brains of Harriet Beecher Stowe, 
Wendell Phillips, Whittier, and other antislavery 
fanatics. As to our exclusive society, there is some 
truth in the statement, but the lack of money or 
property is no bar to one’s entree into the best soci- 
ety, where good morals and brains are ever at a pre- 
mium. There is a kind of society, spelled with a big 
S,” which does ignore the common people ; but our 
best people, rich and poor alike, avoid it rather than 
seek to participate in its baneful riotings. Of this 
society you of the North set the pace. Our good 
women, rich or poor, cannot only lace their own 
shoes, but can knit their stockings, do plain sew- 
ing, cook a meal’s victuals, nurse the sick, and per- 
form any and all other work incidental to house- 
keeping when such service devolves upon them. 
'The poor whites abject serfs,’ indeed! Now we, 
as well as you, have some very trifling people; but 
I venture the assertion that in proportion to popu- 
lation, we will compare favorably with the people 
of any other country on earth. We have a few of 
the class the negroes call ‘ po’ white trash ’ — an in- 
dolent, spiritless, fawning, and cringing class, who 
‘ toil not, neither do they spin ’ — merely innocuous 
parasites, making no mark and leaving no shadow 
in their passing ; they are hangers-on about the large 
plantations, and seek the society of the negro, and, 
in turn, are objects of his contempt. The greater 
body of our white population consists of small 
farmers who own their homes in the hills and are 
prosperous and happy; merchants, mechanics, and 
professional men in the towns ; and overseers, or 
managers, upon the large plantations. These not 


The Blue and the Gray. 


67 


only compose the bone and sinew of the land, but 
engender the moral amplitude and mental stamina 
which go to evolve men eminent in affairs of 
church, State, and commerce ; hence, these cannot 
be rated as ‘ second class ’ or lower. We now come 
to the last supposition — that ‘ every slave owner was 
a tyrant, and his overseer was only an instrument ot 
torture for the negro.’ I must confess that some 
men in all places and in every condition are tyrants 
and brutes. This, of course, applies to exceptional 
cases of slave owners ; but even these have been 
multiplied and exaggerated. These negroes are 
most valuable property, and for this reason alone 
we want to give them the best care possible for 
their welfare and good behavior. You of the North 
have had presented to you only the dark side of 
conditions in the South, and only exceptionally 
black spots at that.” 

“ I am thoroughly convinced of that fact,” said 
Lynn. I have been thinking a great deal .along 
these lines since coming South. , I was never an 
abolitionist: I have always been a Democrat. I 
had thought that the South acted hastily in seced- 
ing. I did not believe all the ‘ Uncle Tom’s Cabin ’ 
stories ; but the integrity of the Union and the res- 
ervation of all new territory for the exclusive use 
and occupancy of white people did engage my at- 
tention and services. Since we were perhaps hasty 
and inconsid^erate on both sides, the questions at 
issue have devolved upon the arbitrament of arms, 
and we await the outcome. Commercially speak- 
ing, I can see that it would profit the North to let 
the South set up a separate and independent gov- 
ernment, as ‘ Dixie Land,’ with her ever-increasing 
slave labor, would run more and more to all-cotton 
culture, to the exclusion of food crops, stock rais- 


68 Luella Blassingame: 

ing, etc. Under the present, or past, regime, you 
can profitably raise cotton for forty dollars per bale, 
buying the bulk of your supplies — including teams, 
implements, and machinery — in Northern markets. 
The East is fast growing rich from the profits of 
manufacturing your cotton, while we of the West 
find here a profitable market for our products. 
With your return to the Union, with the incubus 
of free negroes upon you, your white people will 
necessarily bestir themselves, seeking other pur- 
suits and inaugurating new enterprises, and thus be- 
come more and yet more independent of the North. 
My dear sir, your country abounds in resources, 
latent and undeveloped, which will, with the aboli- 
tion of slavery, be unearthed and utilized, bringing 
you into successful competition with the North, 
'and—” 

“ Well, well ! Tom Blassingame, why are you 
scouting around here with this little squad? 
You haven’t left the front and turned guerrilla, 
have you? I see you have one of the bluecoats. 
I suppose you are just putting him in the way, so 
that Hatch may recover him, and pick up you fel- 
lows, too, on his return. Tut, tut ! ” The sun was 
just rising, and our horsemen had arrived at the top 
of a long hill, the suburb of Hernando, when they 
were thus addressed by an elderly gentleman who 
had stopped his buggy and awaited their approach. 
He was a typical gentleman of the X)ld South — 
Washingtonian in stature, with a Websterian head; 
a face denoting great firmness and intellectuality ; a 
bearing dignified almost to austerity, but wont to 
yield to genial suavity on occasion. He was a 
large planter, a retired physician, and was promi- 
nent and potent in the affairs of both church and 
State. 


The Blue and the Gray. 


69 


“ I just ran in home with these gentlemen, Doctor, 
where we accidentally picked up this gentleman,” 
said Captain Tom. “ Dr. Dockery, this is Captain 
Lynn.” 

‘‘Lynn! Ride up here and give me your hand, 
sir. I must thank you for ridding the country of 
bad rubbish — Cartwright, I mean ; but the boys are 
taking you the wrong way.” 

“ Many thanks. Doctor, for your expression of ap- 
preciation for the little action in which I partici- 
pated.” 

Blassingame and the others then explained fully, 
to the Doctor’s satisfaction. 

“ Billie Payne was in Hernando last night and 
told us of your skirmish at Senatobia, and added 
that you had gone home for your birthday dinner, 
while Pat. Myers had gone up Coldwater River to 
Ingram’s Mill with the company — for a fishing 
spree, I presume.” 

“ They only await us there, Doctor. We will 
rejoin them this evening.” 

With this remark they resumed their journey, 
passing through the once pretty little town of Her- 
nando, where wealth and culture presided in hospi- 
table homes, but which was now a silent, though 
eloquent, exponent of the ravages of war, with its 
wrecked buildings, charred walls, isolated chimneys, 
and streets and public square covered knee-deep 
with a luxuriant growth of dog fennel. 

Onward they went, without accident or incident, 
until Nonconnah Bottom was crossed and the foot- 
hills to the higher level approaching Memphis were 
reached. They halted, and were bidding farewell 
to their late captive, when -a huckster came into the 
road with a wagon load of garden truck, etc., for 
the city market. 


70 


Luella Blassingame. 


“ Hold on a minute ! ” called Lynn to the driver. 
“ May I ride with you ? ” 

Being answered in the affirmative, Lynn dis- 
mounted and threw his arms around Selim’s neck. 
He then led him up to PUassingame, and, pressing 
the rein into his hand, said: “Take him, keep him, 
and be good to him. He is a noble horse. He was 
reared on my own farm, and is as docile as a lamb, 
as bold as a lion, as fleet as an antelope, and as 
tireless as a greyhound ; and, above all, he possesses 
almost human intelligence, and is as affectionate 
and appreciative as a woman. I have his brother at 
home. You must, you shall, keep him ! There ! ” 
Springing into the wagon, he waved his hat as the 
wagon moved off. 

“ Noble fellow, that ! ” said Bullington. 

I have never met his like — from the North,” re- 
plied Blassingame. “Are there any more like him ? ” 
“' Likely so, if they only knew us better,” said 
Marshall. “ With a better acquaintance and under- 
standing between the masses of the two sections, 
this war might have been averted, more especially 
when applied to the South and the West.” 

“ O, it had to come ! ” said Cox. “ The politi- 
cians, miscalled ‘ statesmen,’ had to have it. The 
loud-mouthed fellows on both sides, who were go- 
ing to eat the enemy raw and drink all the blood 
that would be spilled, are still loud, but they are 
noncombatants and are in bombproof positions. 
Let them come out and face the enemy, and their 
courage will wilt. They remind me of Sam Will- 
iams’ dogs : the way they bark and snarl at you 
through the cracks in the fence, you’d think they’d 
make mince meat of you. Just open the gate and 
step inside, and they tuck their tails and make for 
the storm cellar.” 


CHAPTER VIIL 


They now started upon their return trip to In- 
gram’s Mill. Just after crossing Nonconnah bridge, 
they espied a man about one hundred yards ahead 
walking toward them. Observing them, he skulked 
out into the bushes, but they galloped up and sur- 
rounded him. 

What are you up to now, Jim Herring?” asked 
Blassingame. 

Herring was a ne’er-do-well fellow, who lived in 
a cabin in Coldwater Bottom, back of the Blas- 
singame plantation. He did no work, and somehow 
managed to “ play out ” of the army ; he fished, 
hunted, and swapped horses, and, for a wonder, 
usually rode good nags. He now had a bridle, 
which he endeavored to conceal inside his round- 
about coat. 

Let us search him,” said Rufe Jones. “ He may 
be the bearer of important messages for the en- 
emy.” 

“No I’m not, nuther; jes’ come up ter see ef I 
could buy er horse,” replied Herring. 

The boys went through his clothes, turning his 
pockets, but found only a pipe, tobacco, barlow 
knife, fishhook and cork and line, and a half dollar 
in money. 

“Is this all the money you have, Jim?” asked 
Blassingame. 

“ Yes, Cap’n Tom ; thet be all.” 

“ How did you expect to buy a horse ? ” 

“ I thought as mebbe I mout buy er cheap un.” 


72 


Luella Blassingame: 


“Ah, Jim, you won’t half do! Why did you 
dodge and try to hide when you saw us ? ” 

“ I thought as how you mout be ther ‘ Yanks ’ an’ 
er — ” 

“ O, no, that won’t do! You are not afraid of 
them ; furthermore, you saw our gray uniforms.” 

“ I wus afeared you wus ther conscripters.” 

“And we are. Mount this black horse I am lead- 
ing, and fall into the middle of the squad. There 
now ! You have ridden some good horses, but you 
never backed one like this fellow.” 

“ ’Pears like ther horse ther Yankee Cap’n, Lynn, 
rid.” 

“ He is the same horse.” 

“ Whar is Lynn ? ” 

“ Gone ; he will trouble you no more.” 

They jogged on southward until they reached 
Nesbitt Station, where a runner informed them that 
Hatch, with his army, was then about Hernando, 
five miles to the south of them, and on his way to 
Memphis. Captain Blassingame hastily wrote a 
note to his sister, as follows : 

Dear Sis.; We are now at Nesbitt Station, on our re- 
turn to Ingram’s Mill. Captain Lynn made me, willy nilly, 
accept as a present his noble horse, Selim, which I, in 
turn, present to my “ onliest ” little sister. Jim Herring 
now delivers him to you. I trust that your antipathy for 
the whole of “ Yankeedom ” may not extend to the horse. 

Lovingly, TOM. 

The note finished, Tom said : “Jim Herring, you 
know the country; take the Lower Memphis Road, 
or any other roads or bypaths, so as to avoid meet- 
ing the ‘ Yanks,’ and deliver the horse and this note 
to my sister, and I’ll make you a present of my 
white-stocking horse, Hornet. Let me add a line 
to that note.” 


The Blue and the Gray. 


73 


He hurriedly wrote : 

P.S. — Sister: Let Herring have Hornet. — Tom. 

“ Now, gentlemen,” said Blassingame, “ we will 
take this road going east, by the way of Lauderdale, 
to Ingram’s Mill.” 

When near Cockrum, about five miles this side 
of Ingram’s Mill, they met J. Ball Ezelle, one of 
Henderson’s famous scouts, riding at a canter, a 
small Confederate flag fluttering above his horse’s 
head. 

After the greeting, Ezelle said : “ Pat. Myers 
and the other boys are expecting you at In- 
gram's Mill, and they are getting restless, impa- 
tiently awaiting your appearance; they are itching 
for fight and adventure. By the way, a detachment 
of Hatch’s men is headed this way, and, I presume, 
will cross Coldwater River at Holloway’s Eord, 
and should be there within the next two hours. 
I had quite an adventure over in Marshall County 
yesterday. I stopped at a farmhouse for a little 
rest and refreshment, not dreaming of a ‘ Yank’s ’ 
being within a dozen miles of the place, when, 
hearing a commotion outside, I looked, and — lo ! — 
the house was surrounded by a whole company of 
the bluecoated cavalry. They knew I was there 
and alone ; and, supposing that I would quietly step 
out and surrender, they called me. I responded 
with surprising alacrity. Going to the door, I 
jumped about six feet into the yard, a navy six- 
shooter in each hand, firing right and left in their 
very faces. I petrified those fellows, but kept my- 
self moving at a hop, skip, and jump through the 
cedars, into the thicket, and down the ravine to my 
horse.” 

(Ezelle claimed the distinction of being the last 
3 


74 


Luella Blassingame: 


man to furl the flag of the Confederacy, as he did 
not strike his colors until after the last command 
had surrendered. His flag, which always waved 
above his horse’s head, was left in the possession 
of Mrs. William Hardison, of Verona, Miss., and 
was, in after years, pieced into a quilt.) 

Now, Captain Tom,” continued Ezelle, if you 
will hurry up, you may engage the ‘ Yanks ’ in a 
little scrimmage at the ford ; and there’s likely to be 
a brush at Collierville to-morrow, as General Chal- 
mers contemplates storming the fort there. Ta ta.” 

And away he went. 

When they reached Ingram’s Mill, they found 
Captain Myers and his men in their saddles ready 
to move. 

“ Captain Blassingame,” said Myers, “ you are 
just on time — at the auspicious moment. A com- 
pany or so of Hatch’s men have just passed almost 
within sight of us, and we have determined to fol- 
low and give them fight.” 

I'he next moment they were on the run for the 
ford. Reaching there, they saw the rear guard of 
the enemy climbing the opposite bank. Following, 
they crossed the river and deployed to right and 
left. The rear guard of the Federals now discov- 
ered their pursuers, fired their carbines, and dashed 
forward to the main body, which wheeled about 
and presented a front outnumbering our force four 
to one. 

After firing one volley, as a result of which several 
on each side were wounded, Blassingame, realizing 
that further combat would be profitless, withdrew 
his men, to which several of them demurred ; but he 
was firm. “ It’s nearly night, boys,” he said ; 

even now the shadows are settling down. The 
Federals outnumber us four to one. By a few 


The Blue and the Gray. 


75 


rapid maneuvers they could completely surround us. 
We could cut our way out, with probable loss and 
with nothing gained. There are times when ‘ a good 
run is better than a bad stand.’ The first duty of 
an officer is to look to the safety and comfort of his 
men. We have given these ‘Yanks’ a scare that 
will insure against their loitering on their way to 
Memphis. We will proceed a few miles and then 
rest until morning; then we will go on to Collier- 
ville. My companions and I have already ridden 
more than fifty miles to-day.” 

They then rode about five miles in a northeast- 
erly direction and spent the night in the commodi- 
ous mansion of Col. W. L. Miller. The next morn- 
ing they proceeded on their way to Collierville, 
where they found General Chalmers, with his com- 
mand, in front of the enemy’s fortifications and pre- 
pared to make the attack. The Federals were then 
firing upon their besiegers from the cover of their 
breastworks and from the depot, which was perfor- 
ated with portholes. The Confederates out in the 
open on both sides of the railroad, and not more than 
sixty yards from the fortified enemy, dashed for- 
ward in the face of the leaden hail, and would have 
carried the works but for the inauspicious inter- 
vention of General Sherman, who ran in from Mem- 
phis with a train load of United States Regulars. 
He was on his way to Corinth, this being the ini- 
tiatory move to his “ march to the sea.” This train 
rushed right through the little army of Southern 
heroes. It was a complete surprise to them ; nev- 
ertheless, they were undaunted, and, again dashing 
forward, attacked this formidable reenforcement, 
entering the cars and the space between the train 
and the fort. Many were severely wounded ; 
several were killed. Captain Lawler, of Memphis. 


76 


Luella Blassingame : 


and Captain Duckworth, of Brownsville, were of 
the number severely wounded. It was in this en- 
gagement, on a bright Sunday morning, October 
II, 1863, that young W. C. McGhee, of Trenton, a 
member of the old Haywood Rangers (Company 
G), saw the beautiful sunlight for the last time, 
and Robert Mebane, of Company L, received a 
wound from which he died in a few days. Both 
were brave and chivalrous soldiers, and gave 
their lives in defense of their loved Southland. 
The Seventh Tennessee Cavalry, with all its splen- 
did material, could not boast of two nobler spir- 
its than these. Lieuts. H. J. Livingston, J. P. 
Statler, and P. A. Fisher, and Capt. Tom Blassin- 
game, distinguished themselves in the charges on 
this occasion. After Captain Lawler, who com- 
manded the Seventh Tennessee Cavalry, was 
wounded, the command, pro tempore, devolved 
upon Lieut. H. J. Livingston, whose skillful direc- 
tion of the regiment made successful resistance to 
all the assaults of the enemy all the way to Wyatte, 
on the Tallahatchie River. “ Our boys ” raided Gen- 
eral Sherman’s commissary on board the cars, com- 
ing out with hands and pockets filled with cakes, 
bottles of wine, etc., and stopped to eat and drink, 
seemingly oblivious of the “ blue whistlers ” speed- 
ing by. Lieutenant Livingston and others, while 
awaiting further orders, were sitting upon the 
cross-ties, partially sheltered by the cars, munch- 
ing sponge cake. Some, more venturesome than 
expedient courage would justify, were stepping out 
from the cover of the cars and recklessly firing 
upon their entrenched foes. Of these, Dr. P. C. 
Archer, assistant surgeon, and Egbert H. Shep- 
hard, were both standing behind one tree (only a 
few yards from where Lieutenant Livingston sat) 


The Blue and the Gray. 77 

• 

and shooting at — the fort. There stood another 
tree about ten steps nearer the fort, and Dr. Archer 
said, addressing Lieutenant Livingston : “ Lieuten- 
ant, I intend to advance to that other tree.” 

“ Better not ; they will get you, sure,” replied the 
Lieutenant. 

The Doctor made the attempt, however. He 
sprang forward about three strides, when he came 
to a halt ; his hat and hands went up ; and his 
perpendicular, like the “ Indian’s board tree,” 
was so straight that it leaned back a little. 

“ I am shot, Lieutenant ! ” exclaimed Archer. 

“I suppose you are. What did I tell you? Is 
your locomotion all right? Can you run? ” 

“ Yes ; but which way ? ” 

“Anyway to get away from where you stand. ‘A 
good run is better than a bad stand,’ you know ; 
and ‘ discretion is the better part of valor.’ Run 
here to me ! ” 

Dr. Archer reached Livingston in safety ; then he 
proceeded to the surgeon’s ambulance in a near-by 
grove. The minie ball had struck him at the hair 
line at the middle of the forehead and passed over 
the crown and out behind. 

Shephard was not deterred by his comrade’s con- 
tretemps, but declared his purpose to reach the next 
tree, heedless of Livingston’s dissuasion. He, too, 
started on the run, but suddenly stopped, spun 
around on one foot, and exclaimed : “ I got it ! ” 

“ Got it bad ? In the neck ? ” 

“ No ; in the leg.” 

“ Can you run ? ” 

“ No; but I can hop.” 

“Well, hop along this way, and follow Dr. 
Archer.” 

A sp.ent ball had struck his boot leg, paralyzing 


78 Luella Blassingame ; 

his leg for the time, but resulting in no permanent 
injury. 

Had General Chalmers’ orders to cut the railroad 
both east and west been executed, he would ho 
doubt have captured both the garrison and General 
Sherman, together with his staff and reenforcements. 
After the arrival of these, he deemed it hazardous 
to make the attack ; and since he had been twitted 
for his recklessness at Mumfordville, he now rather 
leaned to the other extreme. Many officers and 
men, including Captains Dinkins and Blassingame 
and Lieutenants Livingston, Fisher, Banks, and 
Jones, who lingered about the train, still believed 
that by concentrating their forces there, with the 
cars for a partial blind and barricade, they could, 
with a sudden and .concerted onslaught, carry the 
works and capture the enemy. They did succeed 
in securing several fine horses, including that of 
General Sherman ; they also got his sword and sad- 
dle — hence, the war ditty we used to sing down in 
Mississippi : 

General Chalmers, the gallant and gay, 

Made a raid in Tennessee; 

Captured Sherman’s horse, sword, and saddle. 
Then away for another fray. 

^ ^ 

Now we must leave “ our boys ” to go on and 
fight to the end. Mightier pens have portrayed 
only in part and in inadequate colors the valorous 
deeds, examples of heroism, and the death of mar- 
tyrs, immolated upon the altar of patriotism at the 
shrine of principle — a devotion that finds no parallel 
in the world’s history. Here the writer desires to 
say: To the men and women of the Old Southland, 
to those who participated in the fateful days of i86i- 


The Blue and the Gray. 


79 


1865, and to their descendants, this reminiscence is 
affectionately dedicated. For those who honorably 
and conscientiously opposed us through their con- 
victions of right, he has no word of censure ; and 
for the black men and women who proved their 
fidelity to our women and children through all the 
turmoil, he but voices the good will and apprecia- 
tion of our great-hearted people. The tentacles of 
his heart vibrate with pleasurable sensations when- 
ever he clasps the hands and looks into the time- 
bedimmed eyes of a “ ’spectable old befo’-de-wah 
cullud pusson *’ — Uncle Pomp, who pulled “ de lines 
ober Marse’s kerridge bosses,” or Black Mammy, 
who des’ doted on Missus’ sweet chilluns.” But 
the ladies and gentlemen of “ the old school ” are 
passing beyond, and we shall never see their likes 
again. 

The following poem, by Mississippi’s sweet 
singer, Mrs. Josie Frazee Cappleman, will find an 
echo in many hearts : 


THE OLD-TIME DARKY. 

He is going, fast he’s going 
From the old-time cabin door; 

And the places now that know him 
Will see him soon no more. 

Aye, the “ uncle ” and the “ aunty ” 

With the bygones soon will be; 

And no more of “ marse ” and “ missus ” 
Will they come to you and me. 

No more the crooning “ mammy,” 

Softly swaying to and fro. 

With her love unchanged, enduring. 
Will the Southland’s wee ones know; 

No more the careless singsong. 

In a measure quaint and droll. 

Will o’erflow from hearts so happy 
Till of music seemed their soul. 


80 


Luella Blassingame : 


No more that admiration 

And that darky pride so great 
In all, of good or grandeur, 

On his master’s vast estate; 

Nor that faithful, fond devotion 
To the household on the hill; 

For the trusty, old-time darky 
Had no equal, nor e’er will. 

No more that joy, the wildest 
That a rustic race e’er knew. 

When the Christmas feasts were ready 
And that day no work to do. 

Or the marriage of “ young missus ” 

To some magnate of the land. 

When the darky shared the glory 
Of the fairest of the land. 

No more that grief profoundest 
When “ ole marse ” or “ missus ” died, 

Or the idol of the “ great house ” 

W'as lowered by their side; 

For the darky mourned as truly 
For the master and his kind 
As the faithful in the annals 
Of grief we ever find. 

And to me one good old “ aunty ” 

Still is spared, though short her days; 

And I oft in silence wonder 
At her dear old darky ways; 

And when sadness comes, or sorrow. 

Other friends may faint and fall. 

But “black aunty” never falters; 

She is faithful through it all. 

With a heart surcharged with sadness, 

Do I watch them pass away; 

For the old South with them endeth. 

And the new assumes its sway. 

With the passing of the darky 
Of that goodly, golden time. 

So passeth out forever 

One more epoch of our clime. 

While we love the Old Southland with a never- 
dying devotion, we also love our whole country and 
are justly proud of the South’s contribution to its 


The Blue and the Gray. 


81 


greatness. The events of the past few years, wit- 
nessing the sons of the Blue and the scions of the 
Gray standing shoulder to shoulder in the service 
of a common country, are an impressive earnest of 
our fealty to the flag. But to forget or regret the 
heroism displayed by Southern troops upon a hun- 
dred bloody fields and the devotion of Southern 
womanhood in those perilous times would be to for- 
get the mothers who bore us, to cast from us the 
prestige of our fathers, and to close our eyes to the 
glorious sunlight of Southern skies. 


CHAPTER IX 


You and I, my patient reader, will now return to 
the quiet homestead, to the sylvan shades and sun- 
kissed fields of the Blassingame domain. 

Rising after a night of troublesome dreams and 
fitful slumber, Luella came down to breakfast, and, 
finding only one plate on the table, raised her 
brows, her eyes forming interrogation points, which 
Aunt Dilcy understood. 

“ Da is all gone, Missie ; lef’ ’bruptly lack at fust 
daybreak, an’ rid ofif to’rds Hernando. Da wus 
laughin’ jes’ es jolly as you eber see, Cap’n Lynn er- 
mong de res’; him no ‘ Yank,’ nohow.” 

One of the house girls now entered the dining 
room, saying : “ Miss Lu., I foun’ dis letter by de 
mirror in de parlor.” 

Luella took the note and read as follows : 

Sister: We have decided to leave here at a very early 
hour in the morning, and will not disturb you. Captain 
Lynn has convinced us that his time of service in the 
army expires to-day. He purposes to return to Memphis, 
and thence to his home. We will accompany him part of 
the way to Memphis. I told Eph. that you would furnish 
him with firearms for himself and five or six of the most 
discreet boys, to be used for the protection of our home 
against small bands of thieves and marauders. If the ne- 
cessity arises, you may summon to their assistance the 
entire plantation force. You will, I know, exercise good 
judgment and proper discretion, and see that they commit 
no rash act. Your brother, TOM. 

Luella placed her elbows upon the table, slightly 
inclined her head, and rested her face in her hands. 
“ He has — I mean, they have — gone without bidding 


The Blue and the Gray, 83 

me ^ood-by! Aunt Dilcy, why did you not call 
me?’^ 

“ Marse Tom p’intedly ’j’ined us not ter ’sturb 
you, honey ; he did fer er fac'.” 

Luella left the table, paced the length of the hall 
two or three times, and then entered the parlor. 
wShe looked long and wistfully out upon the now 
deserted grove ; then, with a suppressed sigh, she 
turned and seated herself at the piano. She essayed 
something enlivening, but her fingers capriciously 
ran to “ Drifting Apart,” ‘‘ Let Ale Kiss Him for His 
Alother,” etc. Reading and making tatting proved 
alike unengaging. She could not seek respite in 
listless ennui. With an impatient air she went to 
her room, put on her sailor hat, and walked out 
among her flowers. Bending to caress these 
blooming beauties, she even talked to them, but in 
tones too soft and low for human ears, doubtless 
confiding to them truths against which she strove 
to steel her own heart. She dreamily walked 
around to the front yard, and thence down the ave- 
nue to the big gate, across the road and into the 
grove. Here she turned and looked toward the 
house for several seconds, trying to see herself 
as others had seen her at that distance. Now, my 
old gentleman or elderly lady, do not exclaim : 
“ Bosh and moonshine! ” You have been all along 
here yourselves, and your conduct was no less 
ridiculous than that of our heroine. And you, my 
up-to-date “ society girls,” flippantly remark that 
Luella’s “ melancholia was simply the 'way-back, 
spoony sentimentality of the old-fogy times.” And 
you, my frivolity-surfeited lion of social functions, 
pooh-pooh the idea of true love as a huge joke. 
This is because of superficial ideas and false im- 
pressions you have imbibed, which enable you to 


84 


Luella Blassingame: 


only skim the surface, appropriating only the dross 
and tinsel and quaffing the froth, oblivious of the 
underlying pure gold and sparkling wine. 

Elderly people are sometimes led to believe that 
love has little or no place in our up-to-date civili- 
zation. It certainly is not the love of our youth- 
ful days, or else we now have new, and perhaps im- 
proved, methods of manifesting and expressing it. 

The world do move.” The old-time love, like old- 
time religion, has passed with the homespun days. 
I venture the assertion that there is not one young 
woman or man in twenty of the really “ swell ” sets 
in city “ sawciety ” who could give an intelligible 
definition of “ love.” We still find in the rural dis- 
tricts and country towns much of the old-time sen 
timent — the love that binds two lives and hearts 
together for better or worse; but in the cities it is 
becoming obsolete, and even in smaller towns we 
are outgrowing the old-time traditions that made 
happy marriages and supplied but little work for 
the divorce courts. We arc prone to ape metro- 
politan frills and vices. The twentieth-century 
girl, in the higher circles of society” (?), does not 
set her accepted lover upon the pedestal of in- 
trinsic worth and point to him with pride. No ; 
she is more likely to think of him as only a useful 
attache, an indispensable appendage; a mere lady’s 
walking cane, prized only for its gold head and 
dazzling veneer. She considers him a convenient 
person to escort her to theaters; to pay for flow- 
ers, carriages, and wine suppers; and, possibly, to 
marry, if some other fellow does not come along 
who appeals more forcibly to some of her changing 
moods. It is fancy, convenience, or commercialism 
— the things that bring about too many marriages 
to-day. Nor is the young “ society man ” (we have 


The Blue and the Gray. 85 

reference to what is called “ swell society ”) to-day 
the young man of the highest respectability of thirty 
years ago. He no longer deferentially worships at 
the shrine of femininity, but simply caters to wom- 
an’s fads and fancies as pastime ; he is not choice 
of his language in her presence, but regales her 
with insipid jokes, fulsome flattery, the latest club 
slang (words bordering upon the profane and sen- 
timents too gross for polite ears), while he puflfs 
cigar smoke in her face. And the “ society girl ” is 
greatly to blame for this state of affairs. She has 
sacrificed her exalted place in his estimation by 
not only laughing at his questionable witticisms, 
but oftentimes indulging in like ones. She uses 
the most improved slang; attends plays which 
would shock her mother ; quaffs champagne, 
drinks punch with “ the boys ” in the “ wee sma’ 
hours,” and is hauled home in a hilarious condition. 
“ She is too good a hail-fellow ” with the boys for 
them to appreciate her proper place as a true 
woman. With her, love will ever be an indefinable 
quantity; though she may have a “jolly go in the 
swim ” and lead the “ set a boss dance,” the surfeit 
of dissipation will soon cloy upon her soul, and for 
her, life will be a vapid illusion. She it is who has 
driven much of the romance out of this staid old 
world of ours. May the days of the future bring it 
back to us. 

* * * 

But we have wandered off and left Miss Blassin- 
game alone in the grove so recently occupied by the 
soldiers. She mechanically walked about the 
grounds without asking herself why she did so. 
When near the grapevines, she saw and picked up a 
small picture case, which contained two miniature 


86 


Luella Blassingame: 


daguerreotypes, one of which she instantly recog- 
nized as a likeness of Ernest Lynn; the other, the 
frank, open countenance, laughing eyes, sweet 
mouth, and intellectual brow of a girl apparently 
about her own age. Seating herself upon a log, 
just back of the arbor, which had been Lynn’s fa- 
vorite place of rest and observation, she proceeded 
to study the pictured faces. “ They are very much 
alike, and yet they are opposites in their style of 
beauty. Can she be his sister?” 

Just at that moment a gentle puff of wind brought 
the dry leaves of the forest drifting by; a single 
page of letter paper came along with the leaves and 
lodged against a shrub at Luella’s feet. Looking 
at it, she beheld thereon the elegant, round hand- 
writing of a woman. With pardonable curiosity, 
but much self-condemnation, she picked up the pa- 
per and read : 

P.S. — Now, dear Ernest, I shall expect you to come to 
me at your earliest convenience after your discharge, 
which you will receive on October 10. Just twenty days 
to wait! Such long, weary days they will be. I am re- 
joiced to know that you are fully determined not to reenlist. 
Like yourself, I think a war of invasion and coercion is 
wrong in principle and contrary to the spirit of the Con- 
stitution of our country, especially so when it is waged 
against those of our own people. Besides, there are thou- 
sands of foreigners and worthless riffraffs anxious to enlist 
in the army for the bounty and soldiers’ wages. The Huns 
and Hessians — and, to cap the climax of atrocity, the ig- 
norant blacks of the South — are armed to assist in sub- 
duing their proud and noble masters. If the slave owners 
are as hard and cruel as some represent them, why is it 
that they do not arm their slaves, put them in the fore- 
front in every battle, and compel them to fight us? How 
would we take that, think you? 

Come home, Ernest! By the way, when I visited Aunt 
Sue, in Louisville, in 1860, I met a young gentleman whom 
I found to be exceedingly agreeable and entertaining. He 
and I spent only one evening together in the same com- 
pany. He impressed me as being a superior young man. 


The Blue and the Gray. 87 

His name — let me think — “ Winningame,” “ Blennerhas- 
sett,” or some such long name. He told me his home was 
at Hernando, Miss., and near Memphis. 

Write me that you are coming. My postscript is in 
keeping with its kind. Woman’s afterthought gives tongue 
nor pen no surcease. Devotedly, META. 

lAiella pondered ; “ This girl wrote this letter ; 
she is his sister or his betrothed. She says: ‘ Come 
home to me.’ My brother visited our friends in 
Louisville in i860; she met him there. The plot 
thickens ; I have a tangled web here. Perhaps Tom 
may pick up one end of the string when he sees the 
picture and her writing.” 

Luella looked steadily away in the distance for a 
few moments, then rose and walked to the house. 
There was a stately dignity in her carriage, while 
her face denoted the inner workings of a fixed re- 
solve, an unyielding determination, as of one who 
had been reluctantly upon the eve of pursuing an 
object, but turns from it as being unavailable. Upon 
reaching the house, she gave orders to the servants 
in such an emphatic manner that their movements 
were perceptibly accelerated. 

Eph., with a pompous air and a voluble tongue, 
came up to the “ big house ” to receive the muni- 
tions of war, but Luella cut him short in his pro- 
lixity. She gave him the guns taken from the 
guerrillas, with orders to come to her, whenever 
possible, before firing the arms, with other precau- 
tionary orders and instructions. She then repaired 
to her father’s room, as was her custom, to read or 
sew and to try to humor his whims. 

“ Daughter, ask Arthur Lynn to come in.” 

He has gone to Memphis, father.” 

“ Why, I saw him in the parlor just now, looking 
as natural as of old and handsomer than ever. He 
left Kentucky and went to Ohio, where he married 


88 


Luella Blassingame: 


a poor girl, but she was as pretty as a blue-grass 
filly, and as smart as a college professor — um, I’m 
sleepy now,” 

“Miss L’ella, dar’s a man coinin’ in at de gate, 
an’ ridin’ Cap’n Lynn’s boss,” announced Jim. 

Luella went to the door just as Herring dis- 
mounted from Selim. He came to the veranda 
and delivered her brother’s note to her. After read- 
ing the note, she sent Jim to the pasture for the 
horse. Hornet. Turning to Herring, she asked: 
“ Mr. Herring, where did you meet my brother and 
the other men? ” 

“ In Nonconnah Bottom, jes’ this side o’ ther 
bridge.” 

“ Which way were they going? ” 

“ Cornin’ this erway.” 

“ Was Captain Lynn with them? ” 

“ No’m; Cap’n Tom wus' leadin’ his boss.” 

“ What did they say about Lynn ? ” 

“ They said he’d gone whar he’d trouble us no 
more.” 

“ Did they — my brother — tell you that ? ” 

“ I swar he did. Miss Lu. ! ” 

“ Had they had a fight or any other trouble? ” 

“ None thet I beam tell on. I seed no signs o’ 
any.” 

“ Saw no blood about that horse nor on the sad- 
dle?” 

“ Not a drap.” 

“ Who were with brother Tom ? ” 

“ Lemme see. Thar wus Ben. Clifton, Polk Cox. 
Rufe Jones, Dick Bullington, Marshall, and Lancs- 
ton ; thet wus all.” 

“ How came they by this horse? ” 

“ Cain’t tell you. I’m shore. I s’pose ther Yankee 
Cap’n will hev no furder use fer bosses.” 


The Blub and the Gray. 89 

Jim, the negro boy, now appeared, leading 
Hornet by a halter. 

“Jim,” said Luella, “ lend Mr. Herring a saddle 
and bridle to ride home with.” 

“ Never min’. Miss Lu.,” replied Herring; “ I hev 
a bridle [pulling it out of his jacket], an’ I’ll ride 
bareback. So much obleeged ter you, an’ Cap’n 
Tom, too. I’ll do anything I kin for you-uns.” 

Jim Herring galloped away, riding all over the 
road, for Hornet was fidgety and eccentric in his 
movements. 

Luella walked down to the rack, where Selim 
stood, a royal type of his noble kind. His greeting 
to her was almost human in its demonstrativeness ; 
a tremor of gladness shook his frame, his eye di- 
lated with an expression of joyful recognition, and 
he gently caressed her head and shoulders with his 
muzzle. 

“ O, Selim ! My Selim ! If you only could 
talk ! ” Putting her arms about his neck and press- 
ing her cheek against his mane, a heavenly glow 
suffused her face, and the realization of the indwell- 
ing of a felicitating and chastening essence mani- 
fested itself in those eyes, now so refulgent with 
love luster for the noble steed ; and yet those eyes 
had repelled his master’s advances with flashes of 
scornful disdain. 

O, woman, thou art an enigma! But thou art 
God’s masterpiece, the finishing touch and ornate 
conclusion, the queen of creation. Without thee, 
the effulgence of the sunbeam would be dimmed, 
the beauty and fragrance of the rose would waste 
its brightness and its sweetness upon the desert 
air and purblind eyes, and the melodies of nature 
would be silenced forever. The genial sunshine 
and the moon’s soft light are gathered from thy 


90 Luella Blassingame. 

warm heart and immaculate soul ; thy beauty and 
thy grace are reflected in the bright flowers, tinted 
skies, and limpid streams that beckon us on to 
higher thoughts, purer motives, and nobler deeds ; 
the thrilling song of the mocking bird, the purling 
lay of laughing waters, and the low cadences of the 
evening zephyr, as it gently rustles the moon-kissed 
leaves, are the echoes of the music of thy lips and 
the anthem of thy soul. In such estimation were 
the women of the South held by their chivalrous 
brothers. What wonder, then, “ that the gallant 
boys of the Southland, who had basked in the lux- 
ury of her sunshine and her breezes, turned their 
faces from the elegant ease of their flowery dream- 
land and unflinchingly bared their breasts to shot 
and shell ? 


CHAPTER X. 


“Jim,” said Luella, take this horse and rub him 
down good ; give him water and put him in the 
best stall, with a good feed of oats and hay. Then 
you will remove the carriage, harness, and every- 
thing else from the carriage house and put them in 
the harness shed ; then bring a feed trough and 
hayrack from the barn and put them up in the car- 
riage house; next, bring crap-grass hay and spread 
it knee-deep upon the floor for the bedding of my 
horse, and put him in there. This is to be his 
stable, exclusively.” 

This carriage house stood in one of the back 
corners of the large inclosure which surrounded the 
dwelling. 

“Ain’t dis Cap’n Lynn’s boss. Miss Lu. ? ” asked 
Jim. 

“ No questions, Jim! ” replied Luella. “ Do as I 
tell you. He is my horse now,” 

“ I knows all ’bout it,” muttered Jim, as he went 
to his work. “ I heah Jim Herrin’ when he tell 
Miss Lu., all de same. I ’spec’ as how da done had 
er fight, an’ Marse Tom kill Cap’n Lynn, an’ den 
sen’ dis boss home.” 


* * ^ 

For days and weeks Luella was pale and weary 
looking, and had a listless, dispirited manner en- 
tirely foreign to her usually strenuous life. She 
could not admit, even to herself, that her heart had 
gone out with more than the fullest measure of 


92 


Luella Blassingame: 


gratitude to the brave man who had rescued her 
from an awful peril at the risk of his own life. 
Even though she knew that she could not expect 
to see him again, he had, nevertheless, become her 
ideal and hero, fight against it as she might. No 
other man could be to her quite what this knight 
par excellence had been ; and she had spurned and 
driven him from her for no reason other than one 
based upon geographical lines. Was he now dead? 
Was his body the prey of vultures or the food of 
fishes in Nonconnah Bottom? Nay, nay! Vanish 
the thought! Her noble brother, Tom, and those 
with him, who were equally as high-toned, must 
never, never, even momentarily, pass under the 
faintest shadow of so dark a suspicion. “ If Tom 
had only written more satisfactorily! ” 

Going to her room, Luella almost stealthily un- 
locked her escritoire and took therefrom the picture, 
of Ernest Lynn, first looking furtively about, as 
though fearing some one would see her. She 
looked earnestly, almost pathetically, into the frank, 
brave, yet laughing, eyes, and her reverie ran in this 
wise : Might I not, with unquestioned propriety, 

write and inform him that I have his pictures and 
tell him something about Selim? Common cour- 
tesy would suggest that I do this. But — no ; 
T shall have no communication with the enemy of 
our country! Brother Tom will very likely writer 
him some time. I most emphatically informed him 
that he must not write to me, and I will not ap- 
parently seize upon an excuse for inviting a cor- 
respondence.” 

The imperious toss of the head and the defiant 
flash of the eyes bespoke the patriotic and sectional 
rancor which always dominated every other consid- 
eration. 


The Blue and the Gray. 


93 


Early one afternoon in the latter part of October 
Luella sat at her window, with some fancywork in 
hand, when Selim, who had the liberty of the yard, 
walked up and put his head in for a “ goo-goo ’’ 
word and a caress, as he was wont to do whenever 
she was accessible to him. Selim, would you like 
a little outing this afternoon ? Suppose we take a 
little jaunt.” 

Selim answered with a little horse laugh, and 
made a pretense of nipping her arm, as though he 
received her suggestion with delight. 

Luella was an accomplished equestrienne, but she 
had not indulged in her favorite recreation since 
the “ Yanks ” dispossessed her of her palfrey the 
preceding year. 

Calling the negro boy, she said: “Jim, put my 
saddle and bridle on Selim, then saddle Dick Cart- 
wright for your own use, and we’ll go for a ride.” 

“ Lawd, Miss Lu., dat black Selim gwine ter sho’ 
run erway wid you, an’ nebber stop ontil he Ian’s 
you in ‘ Yankerdum ! ’ ” 

“ Never you fear that! Be spry, now, and saddle 
the horses.” 

She donned her riding habit and cap and walked 
out upon the veranda as Jim came around with the 
horses. He threw Dick’s rein over a peg in the 
rack and turned to lead Selim to the ladies’ mount- 
ing block. Selim, however, anticipated Jim’s in- 
tentions by quickly walking up to Luella, who was 
on her way to the block, and kneeling for her to 
mount ; when she had mounted, the horse ros*e upon 
his feet again. 

“ Why, Selim, you dear old boy ! ” Luella ex- 
claimed. “ You have been accustomed to playing 
the agreeable to the fair ladies. You had a little 
mistress in your old home, eh?” 


94 


Luella Blassingame: 


Passing out into the road, Jim and Luella turned 
in the direction of Coldwater Bottom, going at a 
lively canter and Selim keeping the lead. He moved 
smoothly, without jostling his rider ; indeed, he 
seemed to move upon springs. Dick was fretting 
and jiggling, pulling on the bit, and nearly shaking 
Jim out of the saddle ; his conduct grew worse and 
worse as they approached the swamp. Taking 
the bit in his teeth, he once or twice sprang out 
into the bushes by the roadside before the boy could 
check him. 

“ Selim has no intention of taking me to ‘ Yankee- 
dom,’ Jim ; but Dick manifests a very decided de- 
sire to carry you into the bushes.” 

‘‘ Dat’s jes’ whar he oughter be, lack him’s ole 
marse ; him feels out ob place in good ’si’ty, an" 
"sires ter be wid de ripscullerns in de swamp.” 

Reaching a smooth, level stretch of road be- 
yond the swamp, Luella gave Selim the rein, and he 
set a pace that kept Dick on the run and soon 
brought him down to more tranquil behavior. Ar- 
riving at Mrs. Philput’s gate, they were greeted by 
the usual canine chorus. 

Mrs. Philput, recognizing her caller, came out to 
the gate with: “ Lawd, Miss Lu., Pm sho’ glad ter 
see you ! Git right down an’ come in.” 

“ Thank you ; not to-day. How are you and the 
children?” 

Bodily, well, but so all tore up in mind. I don’t 
see how we kin live sense my man were assernated. 
He weren’t no big things, but he would er-gethered 
the crop an’ scraped roun’ an’ picked up a little, 
here and yan, in chips an’ whetstuns.” 

“ What’s the matter with Robert here?” 

“ Bob Lee is never been usen ter work.” 

“ But I will work, Miss Lu. ; see ef I don’t ; but 


The Blue and the Gray. 95 

T cain’t haul, ’cause we hain’t got but one boss, an’ 
thet’s er mule.” 

“ Well, Robert, I believe you will work, with 
some encouragement. You shall have a chance at 
least. Mrs. Philput, here is one hundred dollars 
in greenback, taken from a charity fund placed in 
my hand by Mr. Sowell. Take it and buy a horse, 
and—” 

“ Thank the Lawd ! I hev hearn some erbout 
this—” 

“ 1 have several calls to make, Mrs. Philput. 1 
will return some time and see what an industrious 
little man you can and will be, Robert.” 

“ This hundred dollars is ’quibulant ter er thou- 
san’ in ‘ Cornfed ’ money, ain’t it. Miss Lu. ? ” 

“ Yes, I suspect it is. Good-by ! ” 

Luella made a circuit of several miles, distrib- 
uting judiciously among the destitute families. 

It was a lovely afternoon, the better half of a per- 
fect day. The fields were resplendent in decora- 
tions of golden-rod and scarlet sumac ; the erstwhile 
monotonous green of the woodland was broken and 
embellished by autumnal tints, the delicate pencil - 
ings of Jack Frost’s paint brush ; the sun, the beauty 
and glory of the day, had turned the meridian 
height, filling the green earth and opaline sky with 
supernal effulgence, mellowed and subdued by the 
Indian summer haze, which, like a gossamer veil, 
rendered all the more fascinating the beauty it but 
partially concealed.' Everything was lovely, quiet, 
and serene — the aged farmer complacently perus- 
ing for the — th time an old newspaper, and his good 
wife lost to the troublous world in an afternoon si- 
esta in her hammock ; the cattle quietly browsing 
or resting beneath the trees on the roadside ; and 
the little birds chirping and twittering in their leafy 


96 


Luella Blassingame : 


bowers, with none to molest or make them afraid. 
A sense of perfect security, serenity, and happiness 
hovered like a sweet benison over all. But — alas ! — 

Where ev’ry prospect pleases, 

Only man is vile. 

Luella and her lackey were returning home in the 
gloaming, traversing the old, dim road through the 
bottom. Upon approaching a dense thicket of un- 
dergrowth, Selim suddenly stopped, raised his head, 
pointed his ears forward, and was reluctant to pro- 
ceed when urged to do so. Luella encouraged him : 

Come, Selim ! Nothing there to hurt you. Move 
on now. That’s a good fellow ! ” 

Selim proceeded, but evidently with a great deal 
of trepidation. They had reached a point where 
the road passed under an archway of overlapping 
foliage, when three men, armed and masked, 
stepped out of the bushes and seized their bridles. 

“What means this?” demanded Luella. 

“ In the first place,” said the spokesman of the 
bandits, “ it means that you and your boy must dis- 
mount and leave these horses to us; in the next 
place, you will have to tell us where to find that 
money that you have at the house, or you must suf- 
fer the consequences.” 

“ I cannot tell you how to find the money until 
we get to the house,” said Luella. 

“ That scheme won’t work, my lady. We are 
not such silly fellows as to let you lead us into a 
trap to be killed by your negroes. You must tell 
us right here and now where we can lay our hands 
on that money. Tavo of us will remain here with 
you and the boy, while the third man goes to the 
house with a letter of introduction from you and 
instructions to find the money. When he returns 


The Blue and the Gray. 97 

with the money, you and the boy will be free to 
walk home ; we need your horses in our business.” 

“Well, if nothing else will do. Down, Selim!” 
The horse’s knees had barely touched the ground, 
when, with a touch from her whip ; the exclama- 
tion, “ Up and away, Selim I ” and drawing and fir- 
ing her little pistol — all at the same instant, the 
noble horse sprang up and forward, knocking down 
the robber who stood at his head, and sped away. 
Under the excitement, headstrong Dick made a des- 
perate plunge, breaking the bandit’s hold upon his 
bridle, and followed Selim, Jim firing his navy at 
random. The frustrated highwaymen were so com- 
pletely surprised and dazed that they did not fire 
upon their fleeing captives until beyond the reach 
of their weapons. 

Luella had proceeded about three hundred yards, 
when a white man and three negroes, all mounted 
and armed, dashed into the road, cutting off her re- 
treat. They immediately fired a volley at the rob- 
bers, who for some inexplicable reason were pur- 
suing Luella on foot. The robbers then ran into 
the jungle, mounted their horses, and made good 
their escape. Pursuit in that wilderness was the 
height of folly. The rescuing party now returned 
to where Luella awaited them on the road. 

“ Mr. Herring — how fortunate ! ” exclaimed Lu- 
ella. “ It seems providential that you and the other 
men happened to be on hand ! ” 

“ ’Twan’t no accident thet we wus here. Miss Lu,” 
replied Herring. “ Thet were Murdock, ther ‘ ter- 
ror of Nonconnah Bottom,’ an’ two of his men. He 
’most gen’ally op’rates up clus ter Memphis, an’ robs 
an’ murders in ther bottoms up thar. ’Casionally 
he’d come down here an’ ’change bosses with Cart- 
wright ; I know him well. A few minutes arter you 


98 


Luella Blassingame: 


rid erway frum home ter-day, they comes ter my 
house, an’, thinkin’ I were a true g’riller, they 
axed me all erbout thet money, erbout ther bosses, 
an’ erbout whut bed become of Cartwright. They 
wanted me ter go up ter ther house with ’em an’ 
help ter rob ther old Colonel while you wus gone, 
an’ then waylay ther road an’ take yer bosses frum 
you. 1 pertended ter give ’em all ther information 
I could, but told ’em as bein’ as how I lived here, 
it would never do fur me ter help rob you, ’cause, 
if I did. I’d hev ter leave ther country. They then 
lef’ me an’ stopped out in ther woods ter parley. 
Then 1 jes’ slinkcd out ther back way, thro wed a 
bridle on Hornet, jumped on him bareback, an’ sim- 
ply made his huffs cut ther grit roun’ ther back 
way ter Eph.’s cabin. I told Eph. quicker’n I kin 
tell you as how ther g’rillers wus cornin’, an’ fer 
him an’ ther boys ter ’fend ther castle, an’ ter not 
give me erway. Eph. give ther bell rope er yank 
er two, an’ all ther niggers run up ter ther house. 
He give erbout er dozen of ’em guns, an’ they 
marched roun’ ter ther front side of ther house. I 
hid behind ther cedars, whar I could see an’ shoot, 
too, unbeknowin’ ter Murdock. Presently ther 
three fellers rode up ter ther gate an’ started ter 
ride in. ‘ Halt ’em ! ’ says I ter Eph. ; an’ Eph. 
shouted : ‘ Halt, an’ give ther countysign ! ’ / Halt, 
nothin’, you black devils ! Charge ’em, boys ! ’ said 
Murdock. They dashed forrid, but them black 
home ’fenders stood firm, with their rifles to their 
shoulders. When erbout halfwa}^ to ther house, 
Murdock, tryin’ to stampede ’em, fired his navy, an’ 
a dozen rifle shots sung out a reply; one of ther 
robbers lost his hat, an’ another’s boss went lame. 
Then they circled roun’ to right an’ lef’, passed 
out ther gate, an’ back to ther swamp. Ther lame 


The Blue and the Gray. 99 

hoss fell in ther road, an’ his rider mounted behind 
Murdock’s saddle. I ’spected they would lay fer 
you in ther bottom ; so I told Eph. an’ these other 
boys ter come with me, an’ we would keep er eye 
on ’em.” 

“ I am so glad you did so, Mr. Herring. I am 
very grateful for your inestimable service. And you. 
Uncle Eph., and these two other men, and all our 
colored people — you can never know how much I 
appreciate your fidelity to us, nor how proud I am 
of your faithful services and your unselfish devotion 
to our interest in these trying times.” 

“ Missie,” said Uncle Eph., “ we is here ter ’fend 
de right an’ uphol’ de wrong; we is de minyons ob 
a Kentucky kernel, an’ de ’scutchen ob his dishonor 
hab nebber yit trailed in de scum ob polution, an’ 
in dishonorin’ his prestige we elerwates our own 
bignificans. We is here ter stan’ by him an’ his 
Vistocratic incendants ter de third an’ fo’th gin- 
erations, through thin an’ thick, down an’ up ; all 
erlong de dev’os way ob precaous life our ban’s an’ 
hearts are at yer sarvice.” 

“ Please don’t mintion anything lack you bein’ 
under obligations ter me. Miss Lu.,” said Herring. 

I kin never do enough fer you an’ Cap’n Tom. 
An’, while I think on it, them scoundrels is jes’ as 
like as not ter return ter-night, an’ if they does — 
well. I’ll be somewhars erbout.” 

“ Do come up to .the house, Mr. Herring, and 
bring your wife and little boy,” said Luella. “ You 
must not leave them alone ; furthermore, how would 
it suit you to move up here and live in the over- 
seer’s house? ” 

I would be delighted, Miss Lu., an’ I am much 
obliged to you for askin’ me.” 

“ Very good. Take the wagon and some of the 


LofC. 


100 


Luella Blassingame. 


hands to help you, and haul your things up to-mor- 
row.” 

They were now entering the big gate at home. 
Jim, having dismounted and hitched Dick, awaited 
his mistress at the front steps. 


CHAPTER XI. 


We shall not relate the incidents attending the 
lives of our friends in the army during the remain- 
ing few months of the war, nor how small bands 
of would-be depredators were intimidated and 
driven away by the ever-alert Jim Herring and the 
faithful negroes. We must say, however, that 
some of the latter, led by the trusted foreman, 
Uncle Eph., ran away to Memphis. The unusual 
liberty and the little brief authority accorded him 
were more than he could wear with decorum. His 
overbearing conduct toward the negroes and his 
willful infractions of Luella’s authority led to his dis- 
missal and the substitution of Herring. Uncle Eph. 
went to Memphis, enlisted in the army, and after- 
wards flourished as a ward heeler in politics and as 
a whooper up in churches. Later, being supplanted 
in these vocations by the younger and more up-to- 
date negroes, he managed to live by the exercise of 
his crooked wits, obsequious manner, and voluble 
tongue.. 

(To our surprise. Uncle Eph. turned up here in 
Brownsville last summer — 1902. Later on in this 
narrative we shall tell the reader about his esca- 
pades here.) 

To the credit of the majority of the colored peo- 
ple upon the Blassingame place and elsewhere, they 
quietly and peaceably remained at home until the 
close of the war, and then set to work upon the 
same lands as wage or share workers. The well- 
kept and humanely-treated negroes (as ninety-nine 


102 


Luella Blassingame: 


per cent were) were the happiest people upon the 
earth. Now, after forty years of freedom, the ne- 
gro recognizes the fact that among no other people 
on earth can he enjoy the rights and privileges and 
receive the benefits vouchsafed to him by the white 
men of the South. 

;k 

Herring’s conduct was an earnest of his devotion 
to the interests of his benefactors. He was an in- 
valuable assistant to Luella in carrying out her 
plans and orders, and doing much upon his own 
initiative in operating the farm. The young lady 
now took frequent horseback rides about the neigh- 
borhood, to Hernando and other near-by towns, but 
was always accompanied by Herring and Jim, who 
were well armed. 

5{C ^ jjC 

Early in December, 1864, Capt. Tom Blassingame 
ran in home for one night only. 

“ Brother,’’ said his sister, when they had re- 
turned to her room after supper, I have some 
pictures, the property of Captain Lynn, that were 
picked up out there where he camped. How can 
we send them to him ? ” 

“ Let me see. To tell the truth, sister, I ki^iow that 
his home is in Ohio ; strange I did not ask his post 
office address ! I suppose we must wait until thia 
war is over, and then insert an advertisement in an 
Ohio newspaper.” 

“ He gave me an envelope, with an address upon 
it, when the guerrillas held him in the dining room 
just a moment before your opportune arrival, but 
I cannot find it at all.” 

“ Noble boy, that, sister ! How I wish he were a 
Southerner ! ” 


The Blue and the Gray. 103 

“ I believe he is at least half Southern, Tom. 
You remember that our father knew his father in 
Kentucky; and how that father’s son could take up 
arms against us is a strange thing to me.” 

“ Had my lot been cast in Ohio, doubtless I, too, 
would have arrayed myself on the other side ; and 
then Lynn, as well as a great many others, ha<l 
been misinformed and prejudiced against us. 
His eyes were opened, however, and the true light 
let into his perceptive and impressionable mind, 
and I am confident that he is more a friend than a 
foe of ours. But let us have the pictures ; it will do 
me good to look upon his brave, honest face — ah, 
as natural as life, minus the charm of animation. 
But, tell me, who is this divinity — his vis-a-vis?” 

“ His sister, I think; but why those rhapsodies? " 

“ O, no, sister ! They are both handsome, but en- 
tirely unlike.” 

“ So I thought at first, Tom ; but every time 1 
look at them, the resemblance is brought out in a 
stronger light. The likeness is not superficial, but 
occult ; not in the contour, cast of feature, nor col- 
oring. It is the radiance of psychological affinity, 
imperceptible to the casual observer, but an open 
book to soul-searching eyes, such as look beyond 
the surface for the intrinsic beauty or its opposite in 
all things.” 

“ I believe you are right, sister. Even now, as I 
look more earnestly into these two pairs of eyes, I 
begin to see more than the inanimate pictured 
faces. I seem to see within those windows two 
souls — if not alike, at least akin ; but whether it be 
the tie of affinity or consanguinity may be a ques- 
tion of special interest to you and me, sister.” 

‘‘ I do not understand you, Tom ! ” 

“Why, just this: I have met that young lady 


104 


Luella Blassingame : 


somewhere, at some time ; and her living image has 
haunted me ever since. Yes, my mind reverts, 
though in a dreamy sort of way, to a real occasion, 
nevertheless. It was a brilliant assemblage, an 
elegant social function, a commingling of tall forms 
and ladies fair, with a flow of wit and feast of soul, 
music divine and flowers galore, where I, just en- 
tering upon the threshold of manhood, met and 
conversed with a coy little maiden of about fifteen 
summers, whom I found to be remarkably sensible 
and entertaining for one so young, and now she 
— her soul — looks out through those eyes ; but 
when and where it was, or her name, I cannot tell. 
At any rate, I hope that the relationship existing 
between these two youngsters may not result in a 
closer communion, for T have the impression that I 
shall meet her again. I suspect, also, that my 
enigmatical sister, in her surmise that they are 
brother and sister, is influenced somewhat by her 
own desire — ” 

Brother Tom, how can you? You know that I 
met Ernest — Captain Lynn — only twice, and then 
as our enemy and under circumstances over which 
I had no control.” 

“And yet, sister, you will not deny that, with all 
the circumstances suggesting your animosity for 
him, the subtle influence of your soul affinity could 
not be suppressed ; you could not feel for him the 
hatred you bore ordinarily toward our enemies.” 

“No; because he was not an ordinary enemy, 
but a gentleman — a noble man. He first won my 
gratitude in my dire distress ; and, again, his noble 
bearing in the face of a horrible and ignominious 
death drew from me my highest -admiration and 
deepest sympathy ; and though he was our common 
enemy, I would scorn myself had I not, by words 


The Blue and the Gray. 


105 


and acts, given him some expression of those senti- 
ments.’^ 

‘‘ Had he been a Confederate Captain, sis — ” 

“ But he was not, Tom, and that ends the — 
Brother, do you know it is nearly eleven o’clock? ” 

“ No; I did not think that it was so late. ‘ Tem- 
pers do fugit,’ as Uncle Eph. says. And our dear 
father — he was dead two weeks before I received 
the sad tidings. Was there any change in him be- 
fore the end? Did he suffer?” 

“ No, brother ; he simply fell asleep in his chair 
as at other times — to awake with our mother, her 
name being the last word he uttered.” 

The brother and sister, kneeling, offered up their 
evening devotions, after which Tom retired to his 
room. 

He Hs * 

Tom was up by sunrise the next morning, and, 
mounting Selim, galloped down to the river and 
back again before breakfast. “ Sister,” he said, as 
he sat down at the table, “ your horse is the easiest- 
going, fastest, and most agreeable roadster I ever 
rode. One’s sensations are more like those experi- 
enced when swinging in a hammock or riding in a 
skiff on gentle waters than on the jostling back of a 
quadruped.” 

“ Yes, Tom, he certainly is a rare treasure. How 
came Captain Lynn to part with him? ” 

“ I do not know what kind of freak or whim pos- 
sessed him. In parting from us, he pressed Selim’s 
bridle rein into my hand, and then ran away, say- 
ing: ‘ You must, you shall, keep him ! ’ ” 

“And he — Lynn ; you say he ran away. How 
and where? You offered him no violence ! Surely 
you did not — ” 

4 


106 


Luella Blassingame: 


“ O, no ! W e accompanied him to the farther 
side of Nonconnah Bottom, and were bidding him 
good-by and Godspeed to his home, when a gar- 
dener passed us, going to the city with his veg- 
etables ; Lynn dismounted, gave me his horse, 
sprang into the huckster’s cart, and away they 
went. We returned, picking up Herring on the 
road, and I sent Selim to you by him.” 

Brother Tom, Mr. Herring is a changed man, 
and all for the better. He has gone to work with a 
will, has made many repairs about the place, and 
does all he can to stimulate the negroes to welldo- 
ing; and he says that he will pay us good rent for 
land for a two-horse crop.” 

“ I am truly glad ; and if he continues thus, we 
must show him our appreciation by giving him ma- 
terial aid, as well as moral support. He was never 
inherently bad ; it was the force of adverse circum- 
stances and his demoralizing environments that 
conduced to his worthlessness.” 

“ The poor man was spiritless, having, as he sup- 
posed, no incentive to spur him to higher aspira- 
tions. Mrs. Herring is a good little woman, too, 
endowed with good common sense ; is a tidy house- 
keeper; and could appreciate and improve all the 
opportunities that she may have. But the negroes, 
Tom — I have dire misgivings concerning our con- 
nection with them ; they are not the same, and I 
fear the future holds trouble in store for us. In the 
first place. Uncle Eph., in whom we reposed the ut- 
most confidence, became ‘ bigity an’ upity,’ as Jim 
expresses it. I ‘ called him down and relegated 
him to the rear rank,’ to use your parlance. Soon 
after this, he, with several others, ran off to Mem- 
phis — ” 

Luella was interrupted and shocked by Tom’s 


The Blue and the Gray. 107 

inordinate — and, to her mind, impolite — fit of laugh- 
ing. 

“ In the name of all the imps of senseless mirth 
and the court fools of imbecile princelings, what 
hath provoked to discordant laughter, my gallant 
brother? ” 

“ O, sister, had you been with us at Guntown, you, 
too, would now be tempted to laugh, even though it 
be in a house of mourning. You know we routed 
the ‘ Yanks ' there, and there were a great many 
colored troops in their ranks ; and the panic-stricken 
negroes, as well as the white Northern soldiers, 
were running helter-skelter, haphazard, at random 
— just any way to escape us. We had broken ranks, 
and were pursuing the scattered enemy, every man 
upon his own motion or squads of a few men going 
after them in dead earnest. Lieut. T. M. Jones and 
I, with two or three others, were chasing some Fed- 
eral officers over a ridge in the wood, and when we 
reached the top of the hill, our covey had flown to 
cover. We, however, heard a powerful voice, ha- 
ranguing in grandiloquent style, down in the 
wooded lowland to the right of us. We rode 
slowly down in that direction, keeping the thick- 
ets between us and the enemy. We rode out 
into the open, about seventy yards from the 
enemy, and beheld about twenty-five colored sol- 
diers, who had been checked in their flight by the 
big negro who wore a corporal’s uniform and had 
picked up a field officer’s hat, sword, and sash — all 
of which he pompously wore. With his sword he 
was carving the empty air with the rapidity and 
vigor of a baldheaded man’s riding-switch fight 
with a swarm of bees. His rally cry was some- 
thing like this: ‘ ’Tention, biggade ! Shoulda-shiflf ! 
Rally roun’ de Bonny Blue Flag! About, lef’ face! 


108 


Luella Blassingame: 


Stan’ by yer fi’sides an’ yer fo’fathers; nebber gib 
up de ship ! S’lute yer ’mander, which is me ! ’ 
Then, seeing us, he demanded: ‘Who comes dar? 
’Vance an’ gib de countysign.’ I demanded his sur- 
render, but he and his ‘ biggade ’ scampered away 
into the dense thicket and made good their escape. 
Do you wonder that I laughed?” 

“ That was Uncle Eph.? ” 

“ Yes, your Uncle Eph., now an officer in the 
Federal Army.” 

“As you were saying, sister, the future looks 
gloomy enough. I must tell you confidentially that 
our cause, so just and so dear to us, must soon be 
a ‘lost cause.’ I cannot even imagine the conditions 
we may then have to face. I will have a talk 
with Herring this morning before I leave, and give 
him all the counsel, advice, and encouragement I 
can. I shall run in home as often as possible to see 
how you are getting on. When do you expect 
Aunt Ruth ? ” 

“Verv soon now — by Christmas Day, at far- 
thest.” ' 

Captain Blassingame returned to his command, 
and, with indomitable courage and fidelity to princi- 
ple, preferring death for a hopeless cause rather than 
dishonorable surrender, continued to the end to 
bare his breast to shot, shell, and saber thrust, 
though inevitable doom now cast its appalling 
shadow athwart the pathway of his erstwhile 
brightest hopes. 

* * * 

Mrs. Lamar, of Macon, Ga., arrived at the Blas- 
singanie home on the day before Christmas. A su- 
perb specimen of the highest type of Southern 
womanhood, never surpassed by the daughters of 


The Blue and the Gray. 


109 


men of any clime or nationality — such was Mrs. 
Lamar, Luella’s Aunt Ruth: This childless, wid- 
owed matron had come to be a companion and 
mother to her niece. 


/ 


CHAPTER XII. 


The end came; the war was over. Our ragged, 
half-starved, immortal heroes returned to their des- 
olate homes to begin anew the weary struggle for 
existence under the most trying conditions, amid 
the ruins of their homes and the graves of their 
dead. How heroically they have wrought, how 
nobly they have won in the time of peace, with the 
innumerable difficulties and disadvantages imposed 
upon them, laboring under the onerous burdens 
fastened upon them in reconstruction times, let the 
South of to-day testify. Ernest Lynn’s prospective 
of the ultimate result of the arbitrament of the 
sword is being demonstratively verified. The South 
is, indeed, becoming more and more independent of 
the North, commercially speaking, and is fast forg- 
ing to the front as a competitor of the North in 
manufactures, -mining, and other industries, as well 
as in matters of education, literature, art, and sci- 
ence. 

* Hi * 

Tom Blassingame came from Gainesville, Ala., in 
May, 1865, and set to work to repair his home and 
depleted fortune. The negroes were lolling in the 
deceptive glamour of their misappreciated freedom. 
Jim Herring had his crops well on the way, and a 
few of the negroes had bestirred themselves, but the 
majority of them obnoxiously asserted their free- 
dom to do as they pleased, and they pleased to do 
nothing but wait for “ the forty acres and a 
mule.” Tom unearthed his pot of gold; ascer- 


The Blue and the Gray. 


Ill 


tained how many families would agree to work on 
shares or for wages ; purchased the necessary mules, 
implements, and provisions; and began operations 
by planting a late crop, mostly cotton. Owing to 
the high price of cotton, farming was reasonably 
remunerative, even under the new order of things ; 
but as the price of the staple rapidly fell year after 
year, with laborers becoming more worthless and 
extravagant, landlords were driven to the necessity 
of mortgaging their farms for supplies to run them. 
Before the war the merchant looked, and not in 
vain, to the farmer for assistance in emergencies ; 
now the shoe went on the other foot. Besides be- 
ing indolent and improvident, labor was becoming 
more and more demoralized by agents of the Freed- 
man’s Bureau, carpetbag politicians, and various 
fakirs, who catered to the fancied grievances of the 
negroes and easily gulled them. 

Ht * 

About the middle of June, 1865, Tom, while re- 
turning from Hernando, rode by the house on his 
way to the fields. Luella was at a window, and he 
tossed the mail to her. Among the newspapers 
was the New York Ledger. She picked this paper 
up and cast a cursory glance over its pages. By 
one of those little inscrutable tricks of fate, her eye 
was arrested and fixed upon the following modest 
little notice : 

Dead or Missing. — Capt. Ernest Lynn, of the First Ohio 
Cavalry. When last heard from, he was in Memphis, Tenn., 
and was upon the eve of coming home. Any information 
concerning him will he gratefully received hy his mother, 
Mrs. E. M. Lynn, Lock Box 271, Akron, O. 

After the close of the war, many a good mother 
watched and waited for the return of her soldier 


112 


Luella Blassingame: 


boy, who never came. The vague and discomfort’ 
ing report, “ missing,” served only to intensify the 
pang of her bereavement, and she died, wondering 
how he was killed and where he was buried. 

Luella rested her head upon the work stand, 
remaining perfectly quiet for some moments. 
Raising her face, now colorless and haggard, her 
eyes pitiful in expression, she reread the notice ; 
then, looking out upon the grove, she murmured : 
“ When he moved about among those trees, I hated 
him ; and my hatred was intensified when I had to 
admit to myself that his handsome person held a 
magnetic charm for me, while his gentlemanly bear- 
ing and noble conduct elicited my admiration. I 
thought that if he were dead, I could love him ; but, 
living, I must despise him. It was a continual 
warfare between my head and my heart. Now, 
that he is dead, it shall be as I intimated to him 
on that awful day when his death at the stake 
seemed inevitable.” 

Ah, Luella, “ love laughs at locksmiths ; ” nor can 
the bar of Mason and Dixon’s line arrest its course, 
however much propriety and patriotism may inter- 
pose. 

Selim walked up and put his head in at the win- 
dow where Luella sat. He often did this, but now 
there was an expression of almost human sorrow 
and sympathy in his -manner. Luella threw her 
arms about his neck, buried her face in his silken 
mane, and told him the sorrowful news. 

* ^ * 

“ Sister,” said Tom, entering the room. “ I come 
to ask a favor of you. I desire to ride Selim an 
hour or so each day for the next ten days. Are you 
ill — headache ? ” 


The Blue and the Gray. 113 

“ Why, certainly you may do so, brother ; but no 
one else shall ever ride him.'’ 

“ I’ll explain, sister : The boys are getting up a 
tournament to be brought off at Hernando on July 
10. Selim is smooth, fast, and tractable; these are 
essentials to successful riding. We expect to prac- 
tice riding for an hour or so each day.” 

‘‘A tournament, Tom ! With knights in armor, 
bearing swords and lances ? ” 

“ Lances, but no swords nor helmets. I’ll tell 
you how it is : A semicircle race course, about two 
hundreds yards in length, is graded, with an em- 
bankment on the outer edge, as in circus rings. 
Three poles are firmly set alongside the track, about 
fifty yards apart. To each of these is nailed a cross- 
piece, extending across the track, above the rider’s 
head. To these crosspieces, wires are suspended, 
with a short hook at the lower end, about on a 
level with the rider’s shoulder. Upon each hook is 
hung an iron ring two inches in diameter. The 
contestants are entitled to three runs, or tilts, each, 
with a possible catch of nine rings, which are taken 
upon the point of a wooden lance nine feet long. 
The prizes are handsome and valuable, and are paid 
for out of the funds arising out of the entry fees. 
These prizes will be bestowed upon their respective 
‘ queens of love and beauty ’ by the successful 
knights. The first prize is a beautiful ring, with 
diamond settings, and I hope to be able to secure 
it for you.” 

Why, Tom, that would look selfish. I would 
prize it beyond question ; but why not bestow it 
upon some other — ” 

‘‘ No, no, sister ! I could not do that. I have 
cared for no one in that way since my Nellie died.” 
His voice grew husky; his eyes, misty. He had 


114 


Luella Blassingame: 


once loved and lost. “ But, sister,” he continued, 
“ other knights will seek to wear your colors.” 

“ If so, I shall appreciate the honor ; but they 
are now forestalled, dear Tom, and I would have it 
so.” 

>|c ^ * 

July lo was an ideal summer day, and the beauty 
and chivalry of Hernando and surrounding country 
had assembled at the fair grounds to witness the 
novel fete and to revel in the felicities of the first 
reunion of the elite of De Soto County since the 
war. The knights, in various and strikingly char- 
acteristic costumes, presented a picturesque scene 
as they grouped themselves about the grand stand, 
which was literally abloom with Southern beauties. 
Here, with many other ladies, were assembled the 
expectant honorees of the knights. There was a 
deafening hum of vivacious chatter, but Luella 
caught a few words of conversation between two 
young ladies who sat behind her. 

“ Can you name the successful knight in the dia- 
mond-ring contest? ” 

“ Why, no ; you see, there are fifteen entries for 
that prize. Brother Nick says that it is between 
Capts. Will. Tucker, Tom Blassingame, and Will. 
Raines.” 

“ Tell me, who is that handsome gentleman out 
there petting Tom Blassingame’s horse?” 

“ I cannot enlighten you — a drummer, perhaps ; 
but he is handsome. He stood right down here in 
this crowd for a few minutes a little while ago. He 
raised his eyes and seemed to take us in with a 
sweeping glance, when his view seemed to suddenly 
focus upon you and me. I at once thought to 
meet his eye with my most fascinating stare, when 


The Blue and the Gray. 115 

I found that I was shooting above his line of vision ; 
for just then Lu. Blassingame looked down in his 
direction, when, with an indescribable expression 
of countenance, he instantly turned his back and 
walked away.” 

‘‘ I -am sorry I turned my face in his direction, 
since it drove the gentleman away,” said Luella, 
laughing. “ I was not aware that my profile pre- 
sented any remarkable feature so disappointing in 
a front view.” 

“ O, it was not that ! His expression was not 
that of disappointment, but, rather, one of blissful 
recognition, mingled with a desire, on his part, to 
escape unrecognized. 

“ I can think of no friend or acquaintance of 
mine who could be so eccentric,” replied Luella. 

* * * 

The bugle call brought silence out of babel, and 
Col. J. Bright Morgan, the chief marshal, rode into 
the central part of the arena, and proclaimed : “ Sir 
Knights, you will repair to your jousting positions 
and prepare to mount. Timekeepers will give close 
attention and announce any delinquencies. The 
run must be made inside of ten seconds, from start 
to finish.” 

The knights were moving away from the grand 
stand, when a loosened piece of timber fell from 
above, striking Tom Blassingame upon the shoul- 
der and disabling him for the day at least. This 
accident caused consternation and much regret, 
which found expression on all sides. 

Just then a gentleman, a stranger, approached 
Tom, and exchanged a few words with him. The 
stranger then walked to where Colonel Morgan sat 
his horse, and addressed a few words to him. 


116 


Luella Blassingame: 


Colonel Morgan then spoke as follows to the vast 
audience: Ladies and Gentlemen: We all regret 

the accident that has befallen the Knight of Blas- 
singame, but 1 am happy to announce that he has a 
volunteer substitute, whose chivalrous spirit can 
not rest in peaceful inertia while a lance awaits a 
hand to poise it.” Turning to the stranger, he 
asked : What name shall I announce. Sir Knight? ” 

“ I will respond to the call for the Knight of 
Blassingame, sir; I ride in his name and stead,” re- 
plied the stranger. 

“ How handsome ! ” So graceful ! ” '' Such a 

clear, ringing voice ! ” “ Such a splendid suit of 

hair and whiskers, and those laughing eyes ! ” 
— these were some of the feminine comments upon 
the stranger. 

He repaired with the other knights to the starting 
point for their tilts, where he introduced himself 
as “ Rover.” Jim brought Selim up to the stranger, 
when the horse seemed singularly affected ; his eyes 
dilated, his nostrils expanded, and he trembled from 
head to foot, 

“ Whoa now, Selim ! This will never do. You 
want to be quiet and hold a steady nerve now, old 
boy,” said Tom. 

Selim will make it well enough,” added Rover, 
stroking the horse’s neck and nose, which seemed 
to have a quieting effect. 

“ Gentlemen,” said Ed. Pope, “ by all rights, Mr. 
Rover should be allowed to gallop around the track 
to mark the distance, get his bearings, and note the 
conduct of his horse. It is all new to him.” 

“Why, certainly! Why didn’t we think ot 
that? ” came from one and all. 

“ Rover mounted Selim, patting him lightly upon 
the neck and speaking in low, reassuring tones. 


The Blue and the Grai. 117 

The horse did not move a muscle, only a slight ele- 
vation of the head and an added luster of the eye 
manifesting his appreciation of the work in hand. 
Rover poised his lance and uttered a “ Go, Selim ! ” 
when the noble steed sprang forward and around 
the circle at a speed above the requirement. 

Those who closely watched the rider saw that 
he could have easily taken the rings, which he pur- 
posely left hanging upon the wires. 

The riding now began in earnest, and resulted in 
a tie between Tucker, Rover, and Selden, each of 
them having eight rings to his credit. This neces- 
vSitated a further contest to decide the tie. In the 
next tilt Selden secured only two rings ; the others, 
three each. In the last tilt Tucker caught two 
rings ; Rover caught three, and was declared the 
winner. 

Amid music, shouts, and the waving of handker- 
chiefs, the marshal rode up beside Rover and con- 
ducted him to the opposite side of the grounds. 
Here, upon a platform, sat the persons who 
were to deliver the prizes. Reaching up the 
point of his lance, the glittering ring, with ribbon 
attached, was slipped over the spear point. They 
then rode back to the grand stand, where, doffing 
his hat. Colonel Morgan said : “ Most gracious 
and beautiful Queen Luella, Grandames, and Ladies 
Fair: I have the honor to present a handsome and 
gallant knight, who is a cosmopolite — homeless, 
nameless, and loveless ; yet he brings, as a rich 
and nobly won trophy of his prowess, a precious 
souvenir to our Queen Luella.” 

Luella was confused and embarrassed for once. 
This gentleman was a perfect stranger to her and 
to all present; yet there was something in his eyes, 
his voice, his carriage, and his presence that af- 


118 


Luella Blassixgame . 


fected her strangely. With remarkable com- 
posure she replied : “ Most Excellent Chief Mar- 
shal : 1 am at a loss to account for this token of 
good will coming from an alien stranger, but one 
who does not have the appearance of a mercenary 
courtier ; and, Sir Knight, I deem it meet and 
proper to commend your chivalric conduct and at- 
tribute to you none other than unselfish motive, 
but I cannot accept your proffered tribute.” 

In reply to this. Rover said : “ Will Your Majesty 
allow that the brotherhood of man knows no na- 
tional lines, no sectional lines, no social lines, and 
that the services of the Samaritan may be received 
with no discredit to the beneficiary? The pleasure of 
participating in to-day’s contest, to say nothing of 
the success attending the effort to sustain the pres- 
tige of the owner of this horse, was sufficient grati- 
fication ; how much greater the felicity of bestow- 
ing the prize where Selim and his master would 
have it go ! ” 

Luella mechanically caught the ribbon, which 
was tied to the ring, when Rover pushed the lance 
near her as he ceased speaking. He deftly with- 
drew his lance, leaving the ring in her hand. He 
dismounted, hastened to the depot, and boarded a 
passing train for Memphis. 


CHAPTER Xm. 


The unknown knight’s unexpected advent and 
sudden disappearance was a seven-days’ wonder. 
Luella pondered it long. She finally decided that 
he was a brother or other near relative of Ernest 
Lynn — in search of that missing one, perhaps. He 
was very much like Ernest ; and if he had been at- 
tired in a blue uniform, with face clean shaven and 
hair closely clipped, the likeness would doubtless 
have been more striking. Then his long look at 
her, his going to Selim and the latter’s agitation, 
and his request to ride for Tom — all these things 
suggested extraordinary significance. 

5|S >|£ s|t 

In the spring of 1866, Luella and Tom spent a 
couple of days in Memphis. Tom went to the city 
to renew the mortgage on his farm for an increased 
amount, for he had lost money the year before ; 
Luella went to do her shopping. On the second 
day in the city, she was in the large dry-goods store 
of Lemon & Gale, conversing with Maj. Allen W. 
Watkins, of Hernando, who was a member of the 
firm. 

A gentleman stepped in from the street, and was 
greeted by a salesman near the door : “ Why, Er- 
nest, you made a quick trip. Did you sell out? ” 

“Yes; I closed out the entire lot to two planters 
at Friar Point, and have General Alcorn’s order 
for another hundred. Mules are in demand down 
there.” 


120 


Luella Blassingame: 


“ Why do they not raise their own mules? ” 

“ O, it’s all ‘ nigger and cotton ’ with them ; so 
much the better for us.” 

“ Yes, 1 suppose so ; but you are not going ? ” 

“ Yes ; I will see you again in a few days. I leave 
on the 3 130 train. I left my horse in Forrest’s 
stable, where he will remain until my return.” 

“ W^hat horse are you riding? ” 

. “ Roy, Selim’s brother, and a perfect match for 
him.” 

“Well, if he can match Selim, he’ll do. You 
still have Selim on the farm?” 

“No; he is the property of a Mississippi planter.” 

“ Do you still pursue the same business, farming 
and stock raising, that you did before and during 
the war? ” 

“Yes; there has been no change, not even in the 
firm’s name. His mother desired that our business 
connection should continue as heretofore ; she 
merely stepped into Cousin Ernest’s shoes. I do 
miss him, but we still hope that he may yet return 
to us.” 

“ God grant it ! I served with him nearly three 
years in the ‘ times that tried men’s souls,’ and never 
did I know him to forget for a moment that he was a 
brave, magnanimous soldier ; a sympathetic com- 
rade; a merciful officer; and a Christian gentle- 
man.” 

“Yes; only those who knew him best could ap- 
preciate him. But I must go.” 

Major Watkins had passed out, after conducting 
Luella to the dress-goods department. Luella sat 
at the counter like one in a dream, while the clerk 
displayed piece after piece of goods. She had lost 
none of the conversation above rehearsed. 

Luella was musing: “ He called him ‘ Cousin Er- 


The Blue and the Geay. 


m 


nest; ’ his name, too, is ‘ Ernest,’ and he is my un- 
known knight of the Hernando tournament.” Then, 
addressing the salesman, she asked : “ Do you know 
the gentleman who has just passed out? ” 

“ I do not ; but I do know that he lives in Ohio, 
and he and Mr. Tobin, with whom he was talking 
just now, were army comrades. He was in the 
store a few days ago, being then on his way South 
with a drove of mules,” replied the clerk. 

Luella soon passed from this counter to the one 
served by Tobin, but was informed by the clerk 
in waiting that Mr. Tobin had just left the building. 
* * * 

Jim, with the carriage, met Tom and Luella upon 
the arrival of their train at Hernando. 

“ How are things at home, Jim ? ” 

“ Eberything all right, Marse Tom, ’ceptin’ Se- 
lim ; him been cuttin’ up lack he wus crazy eber 
sence yistiddy mawnin’.” 

“What’s the matter with Selim?” 

“ I dunno, sar ; a white gentelum stopped here, 
ridin’ de beautifulest black boss, jes’ prezackly lack 
Selim. Him hitched his boss at de rack, an’ den 
axed me fer er drink ob water. Den Selim cum 
tarin’ ter de rack lack he gwine ter eat de boss up 
erlive, but da didn’t kick nur fight er bit. Da kep’ 
da heads tergedder lack da wus talkin’. De man 
looked prezackly lack de man whut won de ring at 
de toonement. He axed me sum questions, an’ 
when he went ter go, we had er time ter sep’rate 
dem two bosses. Him’s boss went up der road er- 
nickerin’ an’ Selim er-answerin’ him by er-whick- 
erin’. Selim been oneasy lack eber sence ; mebbe, 
do’, it’s cause Miss Lu. done been gone erway. An’ 
den dat man went ober dar whar de ‘ Yanks ’ been 
camped, an’ him des walk roun’ kickin’ de leaves 


122 


Luella Blassingame: 


erbout, an’ den sot down erwhile by de grapevine 
afore he lef’.” 

“ What questions did he ask, Jim? ” 

Him didn’t ax many. He say : ‘ Who live 
here?’ 1 say: ‘ Marse Tom an’ him’s sister, Miss 
Lii.’ Him say: ‘ Is da bofe married?’ Den I say: 

‘ No, sar; da don’t seem ter care nuffin’ ’bout mar- 
ryin’.’ Dat’s ’bout all him done axed me.” 

“ Didn’t he say anything about Selim ? ” asked 
Luella. 

“ O, yes’m, him did! I furgit dat. Him say: 

‘ Dat’s a fine hoss ; does he ’long ter yer Marse 
Tom?’ I say: ‘He did ’long -ter him; Yankee 
Cap’n Lynn gib him ter him. Den Marse Tom gib 
him ter Miss Lu., an’ she wouldn’t take two thou- 
san’ million dollars fur him, ’cause she says Cap’n 
Lynn were er gentelum, an’ she ’preshates Selim 
as er soovnin’, ’cause his marse done dead.’ Den 
he say: ‘Is Cap’n Lynn dead?’ I say: ‘So we 
done heah.’ An’ I say : ‘ Miss Lu. done try ter 
hate him, lack she do all “ Yanks ; ” but she couldn’t 
’spise him, ’cause him were a gentelum.’ Den he 
int’rupted me an’ say: ‘Come, boy! You mustn’t 
talk ’bout whut yer mistress thinks ur says ’bout 
gentelum. I’ve listened ter you too long.’ Den 
he rid erway.” 

“ That man is a mystery to me, sister. When he 
dropped from the skies to ride for me in the tourna- 
ment, I felt that I had met him before; now he 
turns up again in a mysterious manner. I do not 
believe that he is Ernest Lynn, and yet there must 
be some connection between them. Even the con- 
duct of the horses was peculiar, for Selim is not 
amicably disposed toward strangers. I remember 
that Lynn told me that he owned a younger brother 
and facsimile of Selim. I left Lynn well and cheer- 


The Blue and the Gkay. 123 

ful within five miles of Memphis, and I know that 
if living’ and at liberty to do so, he would have re- 
turned to that mother who now mourns her loss.” 

'‘Yes, it is mysterious,” replied his sister; “I 
cannot fathom it. Captain Lynn was, I believe, a 
noble man, barring his enmity to the South.” 

“ He was not an enemy personally, sister,” said 
Tom. “ He enlisted on his side of the line, with 
what he conceived to be a patriotic motive — to pre- 
serve the integrity of^ the Union and to prevent 
the extension of slavery into new territory. The 
abolition of slavery was a remote possibility when 
he enlisted. His experience and observation down 
South had, in my opinion, almost transformed his 
preconceived opinions on many questions, and he 
could not conscientiously longer oppose us.” 

"And now your theory, that conscience is not the 
creature of education and environment, is upset, 
brother,” replied Luella. " You admit that Ernest 
Lynn conscientiously enlisted in the Northern 
Army, and, after certain experience and observation, 
regretted that he had done so. His conscience 
smote him when the light of experience and obser- 
vation (education and environment) was turned 
on.” 

" Yes,” said Tom, " his conscience did rebel and 
smite him, but that is not an admission that it is 
the creature of the newer light, but that it is ever 
ready to appropriate and espouse the better light — 
the right — when presented. Conscience is a God- 
given principle, innate in the breast of every hu- 
man being; a true guide and unerring monitor, 
which never errs in the lights before it. It is more 
than man’s self. He has not power over it. He may 
override it ; but, though crushed to earth, it will rise 
again to upbraid him. He may close his eyes and 


124 


Luella Blassingame: 


ears to it and he may distort its enunciations, but 
he cannot emancipate himself from it. He can dis- 
obey it or refuse to use it, but it remains to prick 
him with its compunctions. It grows with use : 
to those who use what they have, more is 
given ; and ihe more one tries to follow the dic- 
tates of his conscience, the more he is alarmed for 
obeying it so imperfectly. Yes, every man has a 
good conscience, whether he is born in pagan dark- 
ness or some corruption of revealed religion. 
Whether the slave of superstition or a follower of 
the Perfect One, he has within his breast a certain 
commanding dictate ; not a mere sentiment, opin- 
ion, impression, or view of things, but a law — an 
authoritative voice, the divine monitor, bidding him 
do certain things and avoid others.” 

“ 1 agree with you, Tom, as to the dictates of con- 
science lighting the way, pointing out the right, and 
approving or condemning our conduct; and I may 
admit that conscience, per se, is the same with us 
all in its initiative and its light — the way of truth 
and rectitude; but we all wear glasses of various 
hues, and our standards of weights and measures 
vary, and are adjusted to, or by, our opportunities 
and discriminations. Times and circumstances 
change,* and we change with them. Brother, your 
theory is, somewhat like the creed of predes- 
tination, difficult of elucidation. If conscience be 
an arbitrary monitor, then man is divested of free 
will and relieved of responsibility. But coming 
down to matters easily explained and of material 
interest to us, did you arrange your business satis- 
factorily? ” 

“ I made the arrangements, but nothing is satis- 
factory nowadays,” said Tom. “ I fear we will 
have to mortgage the farm for all it is worth an- 


The Blue and the Gray. 125 

other year, or turn the negroes over to the mer- 
chants and let them furnish them supplies and 
handle their cotton, while we receive only the 
rents.” 

“ This is, indeed, hard and humiliating to you, 
brother. Father always had money in the bank, 
besides a large amount to his credit with the mer- 
chants ; and now you must not only secure them, 
but must obtain their seemingly reluctant consent 
to furnish you a year’s supplies ! ” 

‘‘Yes, sister, the ‘bottom rail is on top,’ and 
they have us ‘ staked and ridered down ; ’ but ‘ where 
there’s a will, there’s a way,’ and, with life and 
health, though I may be the mudsill, I will rise 
again. But this is not the worst of the situation. 
1 look for a degrading state of social and political 
conditions that will render life intolerable here, 
even with material prosperity. I am almost 
tempted to go to South America.” 

“ Brother, we are young and strong, and our ad- 
vantages and opportunities are much greater than 
those enjoyed by our parents when they started 
out. We are both able and willing to take up the 
battle of life all along the line, and we will begin 
right here.” 

5|S 5k * 

The year 1867 was disastrous to many farmers, 
and Tom Blassingame was no exception. He re- 
alized that to run the place another year he would 
have to lay a heavy mortgage upon it. He had 
considered Lynn’s idea to convert it into a stock 
and grain farm, but how and where to obtain effi- 
cient laborers was the problem. As the safer and 
only feasible way out of the dilemma, he informed 
the majority of his tenants that they must look to 


126 


Luella Blassingame : 


their merchants for their supplies, he reserving only 
two or three families to work with him for a share 
of the crop. 

jk * * 

“ Sister Lu., 1 think if we could sell this farm for 
its fair value, I would like to go West and engage 
in the mercantile business,” 

“ I’m agreeable, brother. I should regret to 
leave the old home, but it will never be the same 
again ; existence here will be only a waking dream 
of the hallowed past — the shadow of its substance, 
an empty illusion. But where can we find any one 
who is desirous or able to purchase? We are all 
in the same boat.” 

“ Northern men are coming South to demonstrate 
Lynn’s theories of agriculture here. We might ad- 
vertise in some Northern paper.” 

“We will first look over the ‘Wanted’ column 
in Farm and Home,” said Luella, producing a copy 
for inspection. 

“ Let me see,” mumbled Tom, running his eye 
down the column: “‘Wanted;’ ‘To Rent;’ ‘To 
Exchange;’ ‘To Sell;’ ‘To Buy.’ Now we have 
it ! Here it is, sister ! Listen : 

Wanted. — To buy a farm of 1,500 or 2,000 acres; mostly 
cleared land, not too billy; suitable for grain and stock 
raising. North Mississippi or West Tennessee preferred. 
Write, giving full description and terms, to Lock Box 411, 
Akron, O. 

After reading the advertisement, Tom remarked : 
“Well, this one strikes me ; .the wants of this ad- 
vertiser come nearer being supplied in our farm 
than those of any other patron of the ‘ Wanted ’ 
column. So I’ll answer him, her, or it, immedi- 
ately.” 


The Blue and the Gray. 127 

Suiting his actions to his words, he wrote as fol- 
lows : 


Hernando, Miss., January 25, 1868. 
Lock Box Jfll, Akron, 0. 

Sir: I have a splendid farm of 2,500 acres in De Soto 
County, Miss., twenty-five miles south of Memphis, Tenn., 
which I will sell at a sacrifice for cash. There are 1,500 
acres in cultivation, and it yields from one-half bale to one 
bale of cotton or forty bushels of corn per acre, without 
fertilization. The timbered land is mostly in the Cold- 
water River Bottom, and consists of a heavy growth of oak, 
hickory, gum, poplar, walnut, and cypress, with an abun- 
dance of switch cane, which affords winter forage for live 
stock. The plantation has been run almost exclusively to 
cotton, but it is well adapted to grain and grasses. It has 
a commodious manse of ten rooms, twenty-five tenant 
houses, good barns, a good gin, and good orchards — all 
under good fence, and only eight miles from the county 
town and railroad. Yours truly, 

Thomas J. Blassingame. 


CHAPTER XIV, 


In due time the follow^ing reply to Tom Blassin- 
game’s letter came : 

I think rather favorably of your property. My agent, 
Maj. Ham Chalmers, of Hernando, holds my power of at- 
torney; and any transaction you may have with him has 
my approval. He will inspect your property and act for 
me. Very truly, Arthur E. Lynn. 

Well, well, sister,” said Tom, ‘‘ this must be 
Ernest Lynn’s father.” 

“ Yes, brother ; our father called him ‘Arthur.’ 
How strangely ends do meet in the tangled web of 
life and broken links are rejoined in the shifting 
scenes! What will come to pass next, I wonder?” 

* * 

About ten days later Major Chalmers came by 
appointment with Tom, and together they rode over 
the property, with which the Major was already fa- 
miliar ; and they at once closed the deal. Tom Blas- 
singame received a check for fifty thousand dollars 
for the farm, but reserved possession of the premises 
for that year. This would enable him to grow a crop, 
dispose of his live stock and farm implements, and 
arrange his affairs generally. He immediately dis- 
charged most of his tenants, procured the necessary 
implements and seeds, and planted ihe farm prin- 
cipally to peas and grains and grasses. For all these 
he had a ready purchaser in Lynn, who would need 
them in his business. When fall came, Tom realized 


The Blue and the Gray. 129 

that he had for once made the farm profitable, and 
almost regretted that he had sold it. 

“ What about your river-bottom plantation, 
Tom ? ” asked Colonel White, on meeting Tom in 
Hernando. 

“Aunt Ruth Lamar holds a life estate in that 
property. Colonel. We cannot dispose of it by sale. 
W e desire to lease it to a good party for a number 
of years. I have been applying all the rentals to 
improvements, and it should bring us a handsome 
income.’' 

“ I think we, Chalmers and I, can find you a good 
party.” 

“ I would be glad if you would do so. Colonel.” 

* * 

About May i a car load of mules and a 
dozen thoroughbred horses were received at Her- 
nando, consigned to the liveryman, Dr. E. Bulling- 
ton. 

“ Ef dat ain’t Miss Lu. Blassingame’s boss, hit 
sho’ is him’s shadder ! ” exclaimed a stable boy, as 
the equine aristocrats marched into the stalls. 

“ Sure enough. Doctor, he and Tom Blassin- 
game’s black Selim are as much alike as Tom 
Frisby and the man in the moon; but this nag 
can’t match that prince of the realm in other re- 
spects ; and that black filly is no ‘ snide,’ ” remarked 
Ab. Dickson. 

“A splendid lot all round,” said the Doctor. 

“ You don’t mean to say that I’m a ‘ loony,’ do 
you, Ab.? ” asked Frisby. 

“ O, no, Tom! You and the man in the moon 
make things sparkle, dispel the gloom of this 
somber old world; that is the resemblance I had 
reference to.” 


130 


Luella Blassingame: 


“ We are brightest when we are full, too ; ain't 
we, Doctor ? " 

“ The man in the moon is brightest when he is 
full, Tom ; I don’t know how you would look when 
not full,” replied the Doctor. 

“Ah, you two have conspired to tarnish my luster 
and besmirch my innocence,” said Frisby, as he 
shied a shuck collar at them and ran off down the 
street. 

* * * 

The next train brought Arthur Lynn. When he 
entered the office of the Fadley Flotel, several gen- 
tlemen greeted him hilariously; for he was readily 
recognized as “ Mr. Rover,” the champion rider in 
their tournament in 1865. 

He appreciated the situation, saying : “ Gentle- 
men, your cordial greetings are peculiarly gratify- 
ing to me. I am no longer a ‘ rover,’ however, but 
hope to be a fixture in your community ; and I trust 
that a better acquaintance may not disparage me in 
your good opinion. ‘ Lynn ’ is my name.” 

“Are you the Arthur Lynn who bought the Blas- 
singame farm ? ” asked Dick Bullington. 

Lynn bowed. 

“ I met a gentleman, Capt. Ernest Lynn, during 
the war, who has since been reported dead or miss- 
ing,” said Bullington. 

“ Yes ; he is my cousin. Poor boy ! He had been 
discharged and was on his way home, when, it 
seems, he received a blow upon the head from some 
one. He lives — in an asylum, his mind being a 
blank.” 

“A noble man ! ” said Bullington. “ I could have 
loved him as a brother in spite of the barrier of sec- 
tional prejudice.” 


The Blue and the Gray. 131 

“ We are not all bad up the country. Ernest 
and I are more than half Southern by right of 
progeniture, and were never ultranorthern in sen- 
timent. Henceforth I am with you in all things 
conducive to the best interests of the South,” Lynn 
replied. 

* * * 

Arthur Lynn engaged board and lodging at the 
Fadley House for the year. He had already 
shipped several car loads of mules into the Delta ; he 
now readily disposed of the remainder of his stock. 

One Sunday afternoon he rode his black horse, 
Roy, out to the Blassingame home. Selim met him 
at the gate, and Jim said he went through ” de same 
quar antics as he did afore.” 

Tom met Lynn on the veranda. “ Why, bless 
my soul, Mr. Rover ! ” said he. “ I am truly glad 
to see you. Walk right in, sir! ” 

Turning to Jim, Tom said: “Jim, attend to the 
horse ; put him in Selim’s stable.” 

“ Den Selim gwine ter paw. de do’ down ter git 
in dar wid him.” 

“Just turn them both in together,” said Lynn. 

“ Den,” said Jim, “ when I goes ter fetch yer hoss 
out, I cain’t tell toder from which.” 

“ O, we will make that all right ! ” said . Lynn. 

“ Dat gentelum laugh prezackly lack Yankee 
Cap’n Lynn,” said Jim, sotto voce. 

“ I must inform you. Captain Blassingame, that 
I once imposed upon you and others by assuming 
the nom de guerre, ‘ Rover,’ but for no sinister pur- 
pose, I assure you. ' Lynn ’ is my name.” 

“ Truly glad to meet you, and thrice welcome you 
to our home — and yours I Walk into the parlor, 
Mr. Lynn,” replied Blassingame. 


132 


Luella Blassingame: 


Mrs. Lamar and Luella received the caller with 
the gracious civility so natural with them. 

“ I could have no hesitancy in recalling your 
name, madam, should I now meet you either in a 
throng or alone,” said Mr. Lynn. 

“ I am curious to know why my name should be 
so indelibly impressed upon your mind,” said Mrs. 
Lamar. 

“ My mother was a Lamar,” replied Mr. -Lynn. 

^LVnd a Georgian — granted ? ” asked Mrs. Lamar. 

‘‘ No,” replied Mr. Lynn ; “ she was from Mary- 
land, and married my father in Ohio.” 

“ Yes,” said Mrs. Lamar, “ there was a branch of 
the family in Maryland. Your mother and L. Q. C. 
Lamar, of this State, are cousins.” 

“ Yes, madam,” assented Mr. Lynn. 

Mrs. Lamar continued : “And you and I are — 
well, we will call it ‘ cousins once removed ’ — that 
is, my late husband and yourself; I was a Blassin- 
game. Here is more unraveling of your tangled 
skein, Luella.” 

“ I should have addressed you as ‘ Mr. Rover,^ or 
the nameless, homeless, ubiquitous knight to whom 
I am indebted for a very precious souvenir of his 
passing across my life’s checkered pathway,” said 
Luella. 

“ I wa.s, in a sense, all you have described, when 
your brother’s misfortune conduced to the purest 
enjoyment of my life,” replied Mr. Lynn. 

“ W as it purely accidental — your being there and 
your participation in the exercises ? ” asked Luella. 

“ I can’t say that it was,” said Mr. Lynn. “ I 
had been South as far as Grenada, searching for 
some information concerning my missing cousin; 
and, somehow, Hernando held a weird fascination 
for me, since that town and vicinity are associated 


The Blue and the Geay. 133 

with the tragic events and heart experiences of his 
last days.” 

“And this cousin — his name?” 

“ ‘ Ernest Lynn.’ ” 

“ How did you know of the events and incidents 
attending his life while here?” 

“ Immediately upon his return to Memphis, he 
wrote a long letter home, recounting his adventures 
about the Blassingame place, his fight at Senatobia, 
your brother’s kindness to him, and a great many 
other things, stating that he would receive his dis- 
charge and start for home very soon ; but he never 
came. A former Union soldier, now living near 
Grenada, wrote, in answer to our advertisement, 
that Cousin Ernest was still living, and, for a pe- 
cuniary consideration, he would divulge his where- 
abouts. I went to see this man and received his 
story, to which I gave very little credence. How- 
ever, I left the money in the hands of a gentleman, 
to be held in abeyance until the story of this mer- 
cenary could either be confirmed or refuted.” 

“And did you find Ern — I mean your cousin?” 
asked Luella. 

The tension was fearful and her agitation was evi- 
dent, despite her strong will power and enforced 
semblance of composure. 

“ Yes,” replied Mr. Lynn, “ I found him well 
cared for in the home of an aged and well-to-do 
couple, near a small railroad town in Kentucky. 
They said that he was thrown or knocked off a 
passing train in October, 1863. They took him in 
and cared for him, bathing and dressing a contused 
wound on his head until it healed. His health has 
remained good, but he has no mind, except for the 
past. He is perfectly harmless and really enter- 
taining in conversation, but he lives in the past ex- 


134 


Luella Blassingame: 


clusively, being perfectly oblivious to the present; 
and he does not recognize even his mother. He was 
evidently robbed and thrown off the train, for the 
old gentleman told me that his pockets and clothing 
were torn, and that there was nothing left about his 
person by which he could be identified. Those good 
people were greatly attached to him, weeping when 
I took him away.” 

“And now he is — ” 

“ In a sanitarium in Chicago.” 

After a few moments of momentous silence, Lu- 
ella asked: “Were you at this house one day last 
spring, and did you call in at Lemon & Gale’s store 
in Memphis, on the succeeding morning and ex- 
change a few words with one of the salesmen ? ” 

“ I was and did ; but how you happen to know 
all this is beyond my ken.” 

“ Did not the gentleman call you ‘ Ernest ’ on 
that occasion? ” 

“ Why, perhaps he did ; my name is ‘Arthur Er- 
nest Lynn.’ ” 

“ I will explain, Mr. Lynn : I was in the store 
when you called, and upon our return home our 
negro, Jim, told us that a gentleman suiting your de- 
scription had been here.” 

“ Yes, I stopped here for a drink of water and to 
see Selim. I knew that Ernest had lost a locket 
or picture while encamped in the grove out there ; so 
I walked about out there, thinking possibly I might 
find it. Besides this, I experienced a kind of sadly 
sweet hallucination in the presence of the scenes 
and surroundings where the poor boy lost not only 
his picture, but his heart as well. I think I must 
bring him here some time. There is no telling 
what effect it may have upon him, for his mental 
meanderings invariably begin and end here ; it is 


The Blue and the Geay. 135 

the one spot, the rendezvous of his erratic mind and 
rambling cogitations/’ 

“ I sincerely hope that your cousin may be re- 
stored to his pristine condition, Mr. Lynn. In our 
brief acquaintance with him, he won our admiration, 
esteem, and gratitude. I am now surprised that I 
did not sooner observe your resemblance to him.” 

“ Yes, with a similarity in our ‘ make-up,’ Cousin 
Ernest and I have often been mistaken for twin 
brothers.” 

I have his picture, Mr. Lynn. It was found out 
in the grove ; but we did not know his address, and, 
later, we heard that he was dead or missing.” 

Luella handed him the pictures and the postscript 
to Meta’s letter. He rested his elbow upon the 
center table, bowed his brow to his hand, and 
looked long and pathetically into the pictured faces. 
Doubtless a flood of sacred recollections were teem- 
ing upon his heart. 

Very natural and lifelike,” said Arthur. “ O, 
that terrible war! What a world of want and suf- 
fering, of heartaches and brain wreckings, to say 
nothing of the bloodshed and the destruction of 
homes and property — and all in a strife between 
brothers, in a common country and a Christian 
land.” Mr. Lynn spoke feelingly. 

“ I am beginning to see,” said Luella, “ that if 
those fighting brothers had known more of each 
other and had understood the political questions 
of difference so rashly agitated by their leaders on 
both sides, the war might have been averted.” 

“Just so. Miss Blassingame,” replied Mr. Lynn ; 
“ and if the matter of reconstruction could now be 
left solely to General Lee and General Grant and 
the rank and file of the fighting men who served 
under them, a happy reconciliation and amicable 


136 


Lqella Blassingame. 


adjustment would be readily attained; but the non- 
combatants on one side are arrogant and proscrip- 
tive, while the others repel all overtures with sullen 
vindictiveness. Fighting men are magnanimous in 
victory and accept defeat with the best grace possi- 
ble.” He had laid the locket down. 

Luella now picked it up, and said : “ The young 
lady is your cousin’s sister, I presume.” 

“ No, she is my sister, Meta.” 

“ Friend Lynn^” interrupted Tom, entering the 
room, “ perhaps you would like a ride around the 
farm.” 

“ Well, yes, though I find it exceedingly pleasant 
here,” replied Mr. Lynn. 

“ Sister and I will accompany you. Aunt Ruth, 
will you complete the quartet?” Tom asked. 

“ I must deny myself that pleasure, Tom,” replied 
his aunt, and take my accustomed siesta, as I have 
a slight headache.” 

‘■Jim,” called Tom, “ bring Selim and his chum 
out and saddle them for sister and Mr. Lynn ; then 
saddle my horse and bring them all to the front.” 

“ How’s I gwine ter know which is Miss Lu.’s 
boss, Fd lack ter know, when da bofe is jes’ lack 
de Oder,” muttered Jim. 


CHAPTER XV. 


The horses set the boy, Jim, right as to their dis- 
tinctive characteristics. Selim met him -with an ex- 
pectant look, while Roy manifested his aversion to 
the black boy by settling his ears back and flash- 
ing a vicious look at him. He led Selim out and 
saddled him ; then Roy, walking out and standing 
b}^ permitted himself to be caparisoned, though he 
manifested displeasure in doing so. Then, bringing 
Tom’s splendid sorrel war horse, Duke, to the rack, 
the boy ran to open the gate. The gentlemen 
walked out upon the veranda and awaited Luella’s 
coming. She made her appearance, a few minutes 
later, attired in a handsome, well-fitting riding 
habit, her cap and whip in hand. If Ernest Lynn 
had been charmed and captivated by the beautiful 
girl of nineteen years, how much greater the en- 
thrallment of the no less impressionable Arthur 
Lynn when brought within the radiance of this 
superb woman of three .and twenty years ! 

We will endeavor to draw a pen picture of this 
Southern heroine : She is a little above medium 
height ; has a perfectly rounded figure, fuller than 
when introduced to the reader, but no less lithe. 
Her hair is a shade of brown, inclining to black, 
and is brushed back in shimmering wavelets from a 
broad, white forehead, marked by well-arched 
brows. Her abundant tresses, unconfined, ripple 
down in cascades of threads of steel, in strands of 
jet, as the lights and shadows play in and out in 
the silken meshes. Her eyes are large and lumi- 

5 


138 


Luella Bi*assingame : 


nous, of a shade to match her hair, and are as 
changeable in shadings as they are variable in ex- 
pression, ever assuming a darker hue when under 
the spell of intense feeling, whether it be an emo- 
tion of love, anger, grief, or pathos. Her mannei 
is frank and candid, entirely devoid of all dissim- 
ulation or affectation. She looks directly into the 
face of the person to whom she talks ; she does 
not indulge in frivolous or flippant speech, but en- 
joys little pleasantries and exchanges of real wit 
and humor ; she is well informed upon current top- 
ics, and her conversation evinces both serious 
thought and mature discrimination. She is not 
only attractive on first sight, but continually im- 
proves upon extended association. 

* * 

Of the Southern girl of long ago I write with love 
and reverence ; her beauty, her virtue, her tender- 
ness, her loyalty to her own, her fortitude, and her 
sacrifices are proud heritages to us who knew her. 
When the fierce South cheered on her sons to bat- 
tle, well do I remember how the women remained 
at home, bearing the brunt of life and denying 
themselves the pleasures and luxuries to which they 
had been accustomed ; they were frugal, industri- 
ous, and uncomplaining. They were grieved for 
the bright blood that was spilled, but closed their 
lips against words of fear and longing, and bade 
father, husband, son, or lover to the fray; and they 
never gave vent to a murmur for the privations they 
endured in their desolate home life. 

I cannot say too much for the men of the South,, 
but let not their prestige overshadow these silver- 
tressed matrons who with Spartan spirit survived 
those harrowing times and then bravely took up the 


The Blue and the Gray. 139 

work of reconstructing their homes under the 
changed conditions. The “ old boys ” are now 
reveling in the delights of the reunion at Dallas, 
Texas. 3y all means let the “ old girls ” be there, 
too, even if the event must dispense with some of the 
frills and feathers, balls and music, and sponsors 
and maids of honor selected from up-to-date society 
queens. Luella and her gallant brother, Tom, are 
there ; for Dallas is now their home. 

* >i« 

But I was descanting upon the ante-helium Mis- 
sissippi girl. She loved her home, was proud of it, 
and it was her greatest pleasure to make it com- 
fortable and attractive. Her home was — home ; 
she was happy there always — in summer, when the 
wide fields stir not in the swooning noons ; in au- 
tumn, when the hillsides and valleys blaze in a riot 
of hues ; in winter, when the air has an icy touch ; 
and in springtime, when she saw “ the fat soil rise 
and roll, in smooth, dark waves, back from the 
plow.” This was the girl of the Old South — the 
land of slaves and broad fields of cotton ; the land 
of large, two-story white houses, with green win- 
dow blinds, sitting well back from the road, and 
with avenues of trees reaching to the gate. 

Jfs Jjs 

Our friends rode in the direction of the river 
only a short distance, when they left the public 
road, taking the left-hand road, which passed 
through a large forest. 

I hear singing,” said Mr. Lynn. 

“Yes, it is the colored people; their church is 
just over the hill there,” replied Tom. 


140 Luella Blassingame: 

“Why, are they building churches?” asked Mr. 
Lynn. 

“ No,” said Tom ; “ the white people have always 
provided them with churches and preachers.” 

“Well, well!” said Mr. Lynn. “We at the 
North have been taught to believe that the negroes 
were not permitted to congregate for worship or for 
other purposes.” 

“ Only another fallacy of sectional prejudice,” 
Tom replied. “ Every planter who owned as many 
as one hundred slaves furnished a house and a 
white preacher for his people; and in addition to 
the services of white preachers, the black men were 
not only permitted, but were encouraged, to exhort 
and to lead in prayer and song service. The truth is, 
religion was absolutely necessary to the institution 
of slavery. The negro was largely controlled 
through his religion, and we knew that if we denied 
him this privilege, disorder and turbulence would 
ensue. In the poorer communities and in towns 
where there were only a few negroes, there was 
always a place set apart for them in the churches 
of the white people ; and in these it was no unusual 
thing to call upon some pious colored man to raise 
his voice and lead in prayer. Their natural elo- 
quence and quaint idiomatic expressions are quite 
interesting. Suppose we ride out by their church ; 
we frequently attend their meetings, and nothing 
pleases them more.” 

The singing ceased as they reached the top of the 
hill, with the church in view. A tall black man, in 
a Prince Albert coat, with a high-standing paper 
collar and cuffs of the same material and extending 
two inches beyond his coat sleeves, was gesticulat- 
ing wildly, his sonorous voice making vocal the 
wooded hillsides and reverberating in the adjacent 


The Blue and the Gray. 141 

ramifications of the deep ravines. He stood upon 
a platform under a large arbor near the church. 

As the riders drew near the arbor, Luella said: 
“ Brother, I have never seen so many of them here, 
not even during their camp meetings. And (would 
you believe it?) that preacher is Uncle Eph. ! I 
thought he was in Memphis.” 

“ Ha, ha ! ” laughed Tom, “ I left him — or, rather, 
he left me — at Brice’s Cross Roads. But you are 
right, sister; he is here now. Now, the occasion of 
this meeting is something out of the ordinary. 
There is ' something up ’ here, and I am anxious 
to know what it is. We will ride away to the right, 
and then approach the arbor from the other side; 
approaching from that direction, we can draw near 
enough to hear everything that is said without be- 
ing seen.” 

Uncle Eph. had delivered his preliminaries be- 
fore the party reached their halting place, be- 
hind a thicket of willows. He was proceeding as 
follows : “ Now, my beloved brederen an’ sisteren, 
I is dat ’lustus fo’runner lack John de Baptis’, de 
barrer ob glad tidin’s ter er long-suffon people whut 
hab come up through monst’ous trib’lation. De 
cries ob de lamitations hab gone up ter de Lawd 
frum de broadcas’ isolation ob dis benighted Ian’. 
Gin’ral Grant hab also heahed de wail ob yer long 
endurance, an’ he hab sent me wid full power an’ 
’thority as his penitentiary ter be de Moses whut 
is ter lead de captibity ob de ’Gyptians frum de bur- 
dens ob de Is’elites. Me an’ Useless Grant wus bofe 
valyun ossifers, an’ we curmanded de mighty hostes 
whut brung indemption ’pon you ; an’ we is gwine 
ter pervide fer yer furder ret’rogade erlong de smil- 
in’ pafway ob gullibility — ” 

Just here a snort from Mr. Lynn’s horse caught 


142 


Luella Blassingame: 


the alert ears of the negroes, and their eyes were 
turned in the direction of our trio. 

Uncle Eph. addressed a few more words to the 
congregation, but in a lower tone : “ Whereber de 
imps ob de Lawd goes ter dispel de light, de anguls 
ob Satin gwine ter be sneakin’ roun’ ter confirm 
de good work. De minyuns ob flustration is now 
incealed in dat wilier ambush ; some ob you deakins 
mus’ take er corp’ral’s guard an’ reploy yerselves ter 
de lef’ flank an’ de right flank ob dat g’riller thicket, 
an’ den repote de insult ob yo’ recerniterin’ ter 
headquarters. We will now rejourn dis ’sociation, 
but fust you all come up heah an’ ’tribute ob yer 
meanness ter dis refutable cause ; ’sides, me an’ de 
doctor ’sires ter see ebery one ob you pussonally 
an’ p’intedly, as we is gwine ter ’zibit an’ splanify 
some ’grediunces which we hab ter ’spose ob dat will 
op’rate ter yer detriment.” 

A tall, swarthy white man, with long, black hair 
and clothed in a gorgeous Indian costume, who had 
not before been observed, now stood up with Uncle 
Eph., while the negroes were pressing forward from 
all directions to drop their dimes and dollars at the 
feet of these fakirs. 


Jfj 5lc 

“ I now begin to see what will follow this war,” 
said Mr. Lynn. “An army of crooks and sharpers 
will invade the South to flatter the vanity and filch 
the earnings of these credulous negroes.” 

“Yes, Lynn; and while this is bad enough, it is 
not the worst feature of this carpetbag itinerary,” 
replied Tom. “We of the South feel a great deal 
of sympathy for the negro, and are disposed to ad- 
vise, counsel, and encourage him in welldoing ; but. 


The Blue and the Gray. 143 

to our dismay, he seems to reject our good offices, 
and receives our advice with suspicion.” 

“ This is all the work of these mercenary inter- 
lopers,” said Lynn. “ To incite in the breast of the 
negro a spirit of hatred for their former masters is 
a prime and necessary condition to the success of 
their nefarious schemes.” 

“ I am fully aware of that ; but what are we to 
do? ” asked Tom. “ I now know, as well as though 
I could see the modus operand!, that Uncle Eph. 
and his companion in crime are fleecing our negroes, 
but I am powerless to prevent it.” 

“ Fleecing them is not so bad,” said Mr. Lynn. 

Experience, though new to them, must now be 
encountered ; perhaps they may profit by it. In my 
opinion, these men are the emissaries of a secret 
political organization, and the things that they may 
put into the heads and hearts of these ignorant 
blacks are cause for much greater alarm than that of 
relieving them of their cash. I think that we farm- 
ers should organize and drive all such intermeddlers 
from our plantations and country.” 

“And then,” said Tom, “ your Northern papers 
would come out in double-leaded leaders with such 
captions as these: 'The War is Still On in the 
South ! ' ‘ The Rebellion Alive ! ’ ‘ Free Speech Sup- 
pressed ! ’ ' Citizens’ Peregrinations in the Land of 
the Free Prohibited ! ’ etc. Then the reconstruction 
thumbscrews would be given several turns.” 

“ Yes,” replied Mr. Lynn, “ it does seem that con- 
ditions down here are in the North as much misrep- 
resented and as little understood as ever. It is aston- 
ishing to those of us who come down and see the 
facts. I have written to Northern papers, inform- 
ing them of the actual status down here, but my 
communications were declined as being ' impolitic.’ 


144 


Luella Blassingame: 


Cousin Ernest, while in camp here on your place, 
wrote a letter of like import, but it never saw the 
light. But the afternoon wanes, and I am now 
much nearer town than I would be by riding back 
to your gate. This has been an unusually pleasant 
afternoon to me.” 

“ Come and sup with us, Mr. Lynn,” said Luella. 
‘‘ I presume Aunt Dilcy, with the rest, will be ‘ en- 
trenched ’ in the glamour of Uncle Eph. and the 
‘ hoodoo ; ' but I am not a novice in the art cuisine.” 

“ Many thanks. Miss Blassingame, but I must 
deny myself the honor,” replied Mr. Lynn. “ I am 
expecting a lot of wood choppers from Ohio ; they 
may arrive to-night, and I must meet them.” 

“ Send them out here, Mr. Lynn ; there are sev- 
eral vacant cabins on the place.” 

“ Thank you. Captain ! I will do so, though I had 
provided a large tent — ” 

“ Send them right out ; the cabins will be better 
for their occupancy.” 

Tom and Luella were now returning to the house 
alone. 

“Brother, is he, or is he not, Ernest Lynn?” 
asked Luella. 

“ I'll declare, I am sometimes uncertain as to his 
identity. If he is Ernest Lynn, he plays the role of 
dissimulation to perfection ; and yet I believe that 
were this man divested of his hair and whiskers, 
Ernest’s own mother could not renounce him.” 

“ No, Tom ; this is not Ernest. There is an inde- 
finable difference — a latent or subtle dissimilarity 
of personality or magnetism, an essence of individ- 
uality, that you recognize by the impression it 
makes upon your own occult perceptivities, rather 
than the material resemblance manifestly open to 
ocular demonstration. O, no, this is not Ernest ! ” 


The Blue and the Gray. 


145 


“ Ha, ha ! Here you go oflF on psychology again. 
Perhaps the blue coat, brass buttons, sword, spurs, 
and martial bearing — ” 

“ Down, Selim ! Luella commanded. Then she 
stepped out of the saddle and ran up the steps, shak- 
ing her whip at Tom. 


CHAPTER XVI 


Arthur Lynn, in overalls, mud boots, and chip 
hat, rode out to the Blassingame farm on one of 
several wagons loaded with lusty laboring men, 
about twenty in number and all white. Two of 
the wagons — containing mattresses, quilts, blankets, 
and sheets, and household and kitchen furni- 
ture — drove to the vacant cabins to unload * while 
i^ynn, with the other wagons and the majority of 
the men, with their axes, saws, etc., proceeded on 
down the road into the swamp forest. Soon the 
ping and cluck of axes, the thud of mauls, the rasp- 
ing of saws, the shouts and songs and whistlings of 
the exuberant woodmen filled the forest with such a 
medley of resonance as brought dismay and con- 
sternation to the winged warblers and other deni- 
zens of the “ deep-tangled wildwood.” It is suffi- 
cient to say that a complete transformation was 
wrought in the Blassingame farm during the first 
year of Mr. Lynn’s occupancy. A sawmill, with 
the necessary operatives, was set down to work into 
lumber the heavy growth of timber ; clover and grass 
seeds were sown upon the available lands, outside 
of the area cultivated by Blassingame, Herring, and 
the negroes; the woodlands were fenced, and large 
numbers of horses, mules, cattle, and hogs were 
turned in for pasture. Tom Blassingame gathered 
good crops, which Lynn bought, paying the market 
price, Tom realizing a net income largely in excess 
of any he had hitherto obtained from a cotton crop. 

Arthur Lynn soon became so thoroughly identi- 


The Blue and the Geay. 147 

fied with the people of the community that he was 
rarely thought of as a Northern man. Being- 
genial by naturej with a friendly disposition, he 
was popular in a social way ; while, as a citizen, his 
conduct and best efforts were engaged for the pro- 
motion of the general welfare. 

* sjs ^ 

“Aunt Dilcy,” said Luella, “ who was that man 
you all met at the church with Uncle Eph. on Sun- 
day ? ” 

“At de church ! Lawd, honey, dat bigity fool, 
Eph., done been gone ter de ‘ Yanks ’ eber so long. 
Him ain’t been ter no church,” replied Aunt Dilcy. 

“ Why, Aunt Dilcy — you, a good old Christian 
woman — you tell me that Uncle Eph. and a man 
dressed like an Indian — ” 

“Now, how’d you know erbout dat? Da not 
been at no church, but at de bush harbor.” 

'■ Well, it is all the same. Who is he? ” 

“ Him’s Ingen med’cine man ; cuorej rumatiz, 
pluralgy, an’ — ” 

“ How much for a bottle. Aunt Dilcy? ” 

“Jes’ one dollar.” 

“ What else does he do ? ” 

“ O, er great many ’racilous things — tells fortins, 
tell de men how ter vote, an’ er — too much fer 
‘memb’ance now ! ” 

“ What is the stuff you and the girls are using on 
your hair?” 

“ Dat is ter make our har grow straight an’ long, 
lack yourn ; him say we mustn’t tell de white folks, 
but I tell you, anyhow.” 

“ He must be a wonderful man. Aunt Dilcy.” 

“ Fer er fac’, him is, missie ; an’ dat white ’gredi- 


148 


Luella Blassingame: 


unce in dat oder bottle done gwine ter turn our skin 
white.” 

“Ah, and Uncle Eph. — can’t he do anything won- 
derful ? ” 

“ Him fink so, but him cain’t do much, ’cept ter 
norate an’ int’oduce de doctor; but him do all he 
kin.” 

“ Your ‘ Marse Tom ’ and Mr. Lynn found several 
pretty little sticks, painted red, white, and blue ; I 
suppose the Indian lost them.” 

“ Whar da done foun’ dem at? ” 

“About at different places ; they were sticking in 
the ground, mostly in the weeds and bushes along 
the fence rows.” 

“ O, dem is jes’ some ’ittle trinkies whut Eph. 
gib de ’ittle chilluns ter ’member him by.” 

“ Now, Aunt Dilcy, you have more sense than 
that; I know Uncle Eph. couldn’t fool an intelli- 
gent, white-folks darky like you that way.” 

“No, mam, honey; don’t you belieb him kin. I 
is too intelligent ter hab de eye pulled ober my wool 
dat erway; but Eph. p’intedly ’jined us ter not 
breathe er word erbout dem sticks, ur de fire would 
be in de fat; but I’se gwine ter tell you, honey, 
’cause I’se no ig’ramous, jes’ lack you say. Well, 
Eph. — him say dat wharsomeber you go out at de 
hour ob midnight an’ stick dem sticks at de fo’ 
cornders, dat Marse Gin’ral Grant gwine ter come 
erlong an’ gib us er bonfire deed ter dat Ian’.” 

“ How much did you pay for the sticks, Aunt 
Dilcy?” 

“Jes’ one dollar fer fo’ sticks; him let us hab ’em 
fer dat, bein’ as we is home folks.” 

“ Where are they now — Uncle Eph. and the In- 
dian?” 

“Da lef’ ’mejitly vSunday night; I don’t know 


The Blue and the Guay. 149 

whar da gone. Da gone ter-day an’ here ter-morrer. 
Lack de win’, it soun’ whar it blow, an’ you caiii’t 
heah de listis darob.” 


* * * 

Doubtless the people of the North and many 
young people of the South will pass the foregoing 
recitals of actual occurrences as purely fiction, but 
many now living can vouch for their truthfulness. 

* * * 

The Blassingame home was the rendezvous of 
young people for miles around. Tom and Luella 
were universal favorites, yet neither of them ever 
manifested a special preference for any one of his 
or her associates. While none could felicitate 
themselves as being objects of especial favor, at the 
same time none could complain of being disparaged. 
Tom and Nellie had been sweethearts, constant 
and true, beginning in their early teens. They 
plighted their troth when Tom enlisted for the war, 
and two months later Nellie died. Luella had 
never experienced a sentiment warmer than that 
of friendship for any one of her highly esteemed 
suitors. Arthur Lynn, who had come to be thought 
of as a member of the household, had never loved 
until he met Luella. He loved her, and he felt that 
she divined his sentiment, for by the nicest tact 
and in the gentlest manner she invariably antici- 
pated and diverted his intended protestations of 
lov-e. The following conversation will divulge to 
us how matters stood between them : 

It was the afternoon of October 9, 1868, Tom’s 
and Luella’s birthday, and just five years since their 
five-o’clock dinner, following a day so full of inci- 
dent. It was their custom to have a number of 


150 


Luella Blassingame: 


friends with them on each recurring birthday, but 
for to-day Luella willed it otherwise, having for 
their guests only Mr. and Mrs. Herring, Mr. Lynn, 
and (as a matter of course) Mrs. Lamar. It was the 
middle of the bright, balmy afternoon; Mr. Herring 
and wife had returned to their home, Tom was 
writing letters, and Mrs. Lamar was asleep. 

“ Suppose we go for a little drive behind Selim 
and Roy, Miss Luella,” suggested Mr. Lynn. 

“ Why, do they go in harness? ” asked Luella. 

“ Yes, they go together beautifully; they are com- 
bination horses, going equally well under the sad- 
dle or in harness, single or double, though they have 
not been harnessed together since Roy was a colt 
of three years and Selim was five years old.” 

“And now Selim is ten years old. He has been 
with me five years. Time has flown almost imper- 
ceptibly with me, notwithstanding the fearful 
scenes, bitter trials, and terrible losses. I seem to 
live as in a dream ; my mind ever lingers about the 
spot just five years back in my life’s pathway, and 
I fain would return there and reclaim something 
which I then cast from me — a something which I 
shall never find in my onward course and which — 
alas ! — I can never go back to recover. But if it is 
the same to you, suppose that we defer the drive till 
another day and now walk instead.” 

They walked down the avenue and out to the 
grove, as if impelled by a single thought or precon- 
certed intention. They leisurely strolled about the 
grounds, chatting disconnectedly. At last they 
were passing the log behind the grapevine, when, 
as though moved by a mutual intuition, they seated 
themselves upon the log. 

“ Here is where I found those pictures and your 
sister’s letter,” said Luella. 


The Blue and the Gray. 151 

“ Y es ; and it is the dearest spot on earth to 
Cousin Ernest/’ said Mr. Lynn, feelingly. 

While your memory’s trysting place is marked by 
time, his refers to place, and, by the way, to time, 
too ; and, most remarkable of all, his point of time 
correlates with yours; he was here just five years 
ago. Strange ! As I sit here and look at the house 
through that vine, I imagine I see you over 
there. The same entrancing illusion was present 
when I occupied this position more than a year 
ago, while you were in Memphis.” 

Luella now turned upon him a startled look of 
mingled surprise and suspicion. “ Why, Mr. 
Lynn,” she exclaimed, you could not then even 
imagine how I looked! How could you identify a 
specter when you had not seen its substance ? ” 

“ You remember that I had seen you at the tour- 
nament.” 

O, yes ! How stupid I am 1 I seem to be under 
a spell to-day, to be removed from things tangi- 
ble. Even now, when I look at you, I see 
your cousin just back of you; then he seems to ad- 
vance through you until you two are merged into 
one ; but he continues to advance until the trans- 
position is complete, until you are obscured in the 
background and he stands out in bold relief. It 
is only an optical illusion, but I find to-day that it 
requires all my will power to dispel it. Mr. Lynn, 
the presentiment is strong with me to-day that a 
momentous event in my life is imminent.” 

“ My dearest friend, I am at a loss for words to 
say to you just now; just what sentiment would be 
appropriate, I do not know ; I do know that Ernest 
loved you as he can love but once, and I know the 
condition of your heart concerning him ; though you 
have long striven to suppress its yearnings, it would 


152 


Luella Blassingame: 


assert itself. Would that I could impersonate Er- 
nest, not in semblance only, but in reality — that I 
could be Ernest himself — since I cannot conceive of 
his love for you being greater than mine ! ” 

“ Mr. Lynn, my good friend, I am truly sorry to 
be even the innocent cause of any one’s sorrow or 
suffering. I think a great deal of you as a friend, 
esteem you as a gentleman, and admire your noble 
qualities of head and heart; but I cannot be more 
than a friend to you, and I trust that we may ever 
be good friends. I would be untrue to myself and 
perpetrate a fraud upon you, should I profess more 
than friendship for you. Had I been my usual self 
to-day, I might have averted this, might have saved 
you a heartache ; but I seem to be dreaming. I shall 
not forget that you have thus honored me, and I 
hope that I may ever merit the good opinion of such 
a noble man.” 

“ You two seem to be in a melancholy mood ; or 
is it merely the outward manifestation of the per- 
fect indwelling content?” asked Tom, as he ap- 
proached them. 

“We have been indulging in retrospection and 
reminiscence,” replied Mr. Lynn ; “ and, however 
bright the pictures and cheerful the stories revealed 
by the backward turning of the pages. Time has 
added a degree of gloom and a sense of sadness.” 

“ Pshaw ! Such mopings may be excusable in 
the superannuated, but something better and utili- 
tarian is expected and required of us. Let bygones 
rest in the shade of forgetfulness. Sister, do you 
remember that our concert is to come off one week 
from to-night ? ” 

“ Yes, I have attended three rehearsals, and think 
we will get through nicely ; but you two gentlemen 
were not there.” 


The Blue and the Gray. 


153 


“ Captain Blassingame and I have long since 
learned our parts under drill masters much harder 
than your stage manager,” said Mr. Lynn. 

“ Lynn and I will turn off our little tilt well 
enough. W e had a little bout down in the bottom 
the other day, for the amusement of the wood chop- 
pers, in which we used canes for swords. I was re- 
minded of my battle royal with Ernest Lynn, which 
led to our better friendship.” 

“ Yes, Ernest often refers to it in his incoherent 
soliloquies.” 

They had now returned to the house, and were 
ascending the steps, when Tom said: “ Wait here a 
moment, and Fll bring our swords — Ernest’s and 
mine — and we will go through our exercise for sis- 
ter’s benefit.” 

“ But we might batter the blades,” suggested Mr. 
Lynn. 

“ I have provided against that, as well as against 
any possible injury to ourselves. Ed. Vorndramn 
fitted bright tin sheaths on the swords. The battle 
scars upon those two swords must be preserved.” 

Tom brought the swords. 

“ You are to wear your uniforms — the Blue and 
the Gray,” said Luella. 

“ Yes, sister. Now, Lynn, if you only had — ” 
Mine is in a trunk in the boys’ cabin. I will 
return in a few minutes in battle array.” 

5f: * Jjs 

Two handsome men, in the uniforms of captains, 
stood, swords in hand, confronting each other. 

“ The hair and whiskers you wear are an eyesore 
to me, Lynn.” 

Why so, Captain? ” 

“ Without them you are — Ernest Lynn ! ” 


CHAPTER XVn. 


The next moment they were engaged in a gladia- 
torial contest, which was both exciting and sur- 
prising — exciting in the adept impetuosity of the 
blows, thrusts, and feints delivered, and astonishing 
in the dexterity of its parryings and fencings ; so 
that, notwithstanding the seeming ferocity of the 
combat and the furious rapidity of the blows, both 
parties escaped injury. So real was the perform- 
ance that Aunt Dilcy screamed, “ Murder ! ” and 
Jim rang the plantation bell vigorously. 

Luella, with a feather duster in hand as a peace 
wand, stepped between the combatants, whereupon 
they sheathed their swords and clasped hands across 
an imaginary bloody chasm. 

“ Bravo! You gentlemen have, indeed, practiced 
to good purpose ; but how you can avoid hurting 
each other is a miracle.” 

“ Good swordsmen find it no easy thing to reach 
a skillful adversary in real battle. Miss Luella. I 
must now return to town. Wishing you many re- 
turns of this occasion and hoping there may be 
other such days for me, I must now say : An revoir.'' 

“ Bon soir, monsieur,” said Luella, as he started 
for his horse. 

“Say, Cap.! — I mean Mr. Lynn — do you return 
to Hernando in that costume? ” 

“ Fm truly glad that you mentioned it. I should 
have inadvertently done so ; I feel so natural in my 
old regimentals. I will ride down to the cabin and 
make the change.” 


The Blue and the Gray. 155 

“ You wore this uniform in the army, then? ” 

• “ Yes, I commanded a company in the same regi- 
ment with Ernest.” 

^ Ht 5(t 

“ Is he, or is he not — ? ” asked Luella. 

“ He is,” replied Tom. 

“ No, brother; he is almost, but not quite, Ernest 
Lynn.’* 

His uniform and his swordsmanship confirm 
me in the opinion that he is the identical Ernest 
Lynn. Just run the shears and razor over his head 
and face, and the last vestige of disguise will have 
been removed.” 

“ No, brother ; granting that he is a facsimile as 
to outward appearance and deportment, there is 
still an indefinable difference, existing only in the 
essence — the ego, inspiration, or afflatus, of the two 
souls — and distinguishable only to one who is en 
rapport with one of the two. Nature produces al- 
most perfect similes, yet no two leaves of the forest 
are exact counterparts; for Nature does not repeat, 
much less are the potentialities of one soul identical 
with those of any other soul.” 

‘‘ Gone off on your theory of soul identity again, 
sister ! I must admit that my discriminating dis- 
cernment runs no deeper than the outward appear- 
ance of stocks and stones and flesh and blood. Soul 
affinities and spiritual recognitions are inconceiv- 
able to me.” 

“And yet, brother, in heaven there will be noth- 
ing more tangible to confer recognition.” 

“ I yield the point, sister.” 

5i« * 

College Elall, at Hernando, was packed on the 
night of the entertainment. The Hernando Dra- 


156 


Lu^illa Blassingame: 


matic Club, under the direction of W. F. Wesson, 
had attained to the highest point of excellence for 
amateurs, composed, as it was, of exceptionally 
beautiful young ladies and handsome gentlemen, 
with a diversity of talent of high order — literary, 
musical, and histrionic. On this occasion an elab- 
orate and diversified programme had been ar- 
ranged, which was presented to the delight of an 
appreciative and discriminative audience. 

Manager Wesson then advanced to the foot- 
lights, thanked the audience for its respectful atten- 
tion, and announced that the entertainment would 
close with the presentation of a taUeau vivant, en- 
titled “ The Rupture and the Reconciliation ; or. 
The Blue and the Gray.” 

The curtain rose, and a hush, almost painful in 
its profundity, fell upon the audience ; then there 
was a hum of undertones, a few of which were audi- 
ble : 

“ Captain Blassingame and Mr. Lynn.” 

“ You are mistaken; that is not Mr. Lynn.” 

“ Yes it is; he has been to the barber.” 

‘‘ This is not Mr. Arthur Lynn ; it is Capt. Ernest 
Lynn, unless my eyes deceive me,” said Rufe Jones. 

The two actors in captain’s uniforms — the Blue 
and the Gray, respectively — Avere gesticulating as if 
engaged in an altercation ; while the Stars and 
Stripes floated above their heads — at first tremu^ 
lous, but with a constantly increasing agitation as 
the mimic controversy progressed with increasing 
acrimony. 

When the climax was reached, the representa- 
tive of the Gray suddenly recoiled a pace or two, 
and the flag was rent in tAvain, the severed portion 
assuming the Stars and Bars for its design and tak- 
ing its position above the actor in Gray; a large 


The Blue and the Gray. 


157 


white dove spread her wings and took to flight ; and 
an eagle swooped down and usurped the perch re- 
linquished by the bird of peace. 

The actors crossed their blades, and a deathlike 
hush fell upon the auditorium. The conflict, at 
first terrific, elicited many exclamations of wonder 
and admiration, gradually changing to expres- 
sions of horror and sympathy as the combatants 
began to show signs of exhaustion, while an in- 
denture in the stage between them was filling with 
a substance resembling blood. 

At this juncture the dove returned, bearing an 
olive branch ; the eagle, with a startled scream, took 
to flight; while the angel of peace (life-size) seem- 
ingly floated in and hovered over the late combat- 
ants, who now sheathed their swords and clasped 
hands across the crimson chasm. The curtain was 
precipitately dropped, but not before many people 
in the audience had observed that the “ angel ” 
had fallen — into the arms of Tom Blassingame. 

The applause was long and vociferous ; there 
were repeated and importunate encores, the audi- 
ence refusing to retire. 

The curtain rose, and Tom and Lynn reappeared. 
The former said : “ Ladies and Gentlemen : 

This demonstration is peculiarly gratifying to us, 
but we cannot repeat the performance. The bird 
of evil omen has hied himself to more congenial 
climes, the little white-pinioned messenger of love 
has returned for a permanent abode, and our angel 
of peace is with us ; but the horror of the strife was 
so shocking to her that she cannot return to this 
scene while the evidences of carnage remain. Sis- 
ter had an attack of vertigo just now, which will 
soon pass.” 

They bowed and were about to retire, when R. E. 


158 


Luella Blassingame: 


Bullington arose and said : “ One minute, please. My 
curiosity is somewhat aroused, and perhaps others 
here are similarly affected. I desire to ask a ques- 
tion, even at the risk of being considered imperti- 
nent : Are we indebted to Capt. Arthur Lynn or 
to Capt. Ernest Lynn for his valuable contribution 
to this evening’s enjoyment?” 

Lynn replied, without hesitation : ‘^By one of those 
inexplicable concatenations of unexpected circum- 
stances, Cousin Arthur and I have suddenly ex- 
changed places. I arrived at your hotel at seven 
o’clock this evening, and he left on the nine o’clock 
train this evening for Ohio, in answer to a telegram- 
calling him to his mother’s bedside. He told me 
of his engagement here, and gave me his sword and 
uniform ; he also gave me a short drill in my part of 
the performance. I reached the gentlemen’s dress- 
ing room here a few minutes before my time to 
appear before you. I retain a vivid and peculiarly 
pleasant recollection of my brief itinerary in this 
vicinity and of the many kindnesses shown me. I 
recognize in this audience and upon this platform 
the faces of three or four gentlemen, who, together 
with a few others of your people, have been my 
constant companions in all my wanderings in 
dreamland during the past five years. Perhaps 
there are others here this evening to whom a per- 
sonal explanation may not come amiss, though I 
am loath to speak so much of self.” 

“ Go on ; we are interested ! ’I came from many. 

Lynn continued: “ I left Memphis on October 15, 
1863, with my discharge and a sum of money on 
my person. In the evening twilight, as my train 
slowed up at a small station in Kentucky, I stepped 
out on the platform between cars. Two men fol- 
lowed me ; one of them caught my arms from be- 


The Blue and ti-ie Gray. 


159 


hind, while the other struck me on the head with 
something like a hammer. I saw it descending, 
felt the blow, and the light went out. I continued 
to live in the past, totally oblivious of the present 
and with no thought for the future. About three 
o’clock on the ninth day of the present month the 
light of reason was^gain turned on as suddenly as 
it had been put out, and I was again in the Blassin- 
game grove, near your city. They told me that a 
fall brought about my sudden recovery. In falling, 
my head struck the floor with great force, and — 
presto ! — the change was wrought. This occurred 
in the infirmary, in Chicago, where I was being 
treated. I hastened home, and thence here to re- 
new the acquaintance which began under such un- 
toward circumstances, but which has now resulted 
so felicitously to me.” 

Tom Blassingame impetuously threw his arms 
about Lynn, nearly lifting him from the floor, while 
many others pressed forward to grasp his 
hand. After the commotion had subsided and the 
people were leaving the hall, Tom stepped back a 
pace or two and critically looked Lynn over with a 
serio-comic expression, saying: “See here, old fel- 
low ! If you are still playing the ‘ double ’ on us 
* — now 'Arthur,’ then ' Ernest ; ’ ‘ now you see me, 
now you don’t ’ — whiskers or no whiskers. I’ll sim- 
ply — well, you are good fellows, anyhow, double 
and single, in and out, up and down, and all round. 
Come and spend the night with me. I presume that 
you will superintend your cousin’s farming opera- 
tions out there during his absence.” 

“ Yes; it is all one with us. I cannot avail my- 
self of your hospitality to-night, but will ride out 
to-morrow. I desire to look over some papers in 
my room to-night. I trust that your sister may 


160 


Lublla Blassingame: 


suffer no serious inconvenience from her indisposi- 
tion to-night.” 

“ Thank you ! She is over it now, and the drive out 
home in the open air will restore her pristine con- 
dition. She was never before thus affected ; the 
close, heated dressing room and her swing out upon 
the stage conduced to her dizziness.” 

The gentlemen parted for the night. 

* * * 

Tom, Luella, and Mrs. Lamar had entered their 
carriage and were about to drive off, when Lute 
Hawkins stepped up and said : “ We are not so sure 
yet. Cap.; the mystery thickens. I saw Walter 
Gwyn, the ticket agent, just now, and he says that 
Lynn bought no ticket to Memphis. Fadley says 
that only one Lynn ate supper at the hotel, and 
that was Arthur, who had just had a shave and 
a hair cut ; the barber told me that he did the work 
for Arthur. So there you are ! ” 

“ Well,” replied Tom, “ I confess that I am all at 
sea, Hawkins.” 

“ I am not at all at sea,” said Luella. “ My ship 
has come in ; this is Ernest Lynn.” She continued 
as they drove homeward: “He just now told us* 
that his mind was restored at three o’clock on Oc- 
tober 9 (our birthday), and that he was immedi- 
ately translated to our grove. It was just at the 
time when Arthur and I were seated upon the log 
in the grove. You found us there, and twitted us 
for being in a melancholy mood. I had just passed 
through a weird experience and was oppressed by a 
vivid representation, for then and there Ernest 
Lynn’s wraith appeared to me in lifelike aspect. 
Laugh at my ideas concerning psychology and 


The Blue and the Gray. 161 

metaphysics if you will, but please explain these 
phenomena.” 

“ O,” said Tom, “ I rely solely upon ocular demon- 
stration, sentient attributes, and the exercise of logi- 
cal inference in solving the practical problems ot 
life ; and as for the occult and mysterious, I let them 
pass as being above and beyond my ken. If there 
be two Lynns and we can get them together, I 
shall, perhaps, be able to distinguish one from the 
other. Put Selim and Roy in one stable and send 
me for one, and it will be haphazard luck if I bring 
out the right one ; and so with the two men — ” 

“ Why, brother, Jim would make no mistake 
about the horses on the darkest night ! ” 

“ Woman’s acumen and intuition excel man’s pro- 
cess of reasoning in some instances,” said Mrs. La- 
mar, as they were entering the big gate at home. 


CHAPTER XVIIL 


Tom and Luella looked, but in vain, for the ar- 
rival of Lynn. It was one o’clock when Tom or- 
dered his horse and started to Hernando. He spent 
the afternoon in town, and, returning home in the 
evening, found Mrs. Lamar and Luella seated upon 
the veranda, expectantly awaiting his report. He 
impatiently dismounted, flung Duke’s rein over a 
hook on the rack, and, with a perturbed coun- 
tenance, strode up the steps and dropped into a 
chair. 

“ Why, Tom ! Anything gone wrong? ” 

“ Nothing of any consequence. Aunt Ruth — at 
least, nothing that should ruffle a person; but these 
little straws of mystery are more vexatious to me 
than great, solid chunks of unwelcome facts. That 
fellow, Ernest Arthur Lynn or Arthur Ernest Lynn, 
has vanished.” 

“Indeed! How? When?” asked Mrs. Lamar. 

“ He left on the early train this morning, saying 
that in his dreams he had seen his aunt dying, and 
that he must return to Ohio at once, and — ” 

“ The other one left last night.” 

“ There is no other one, auntie ; we have seen 
but one Lynn.” 

“ That is my opinion, too ; but how such a noble 
man and perfect gentleman can stoop to such tri- 
fling is astonishing.” 

“ O, he is full and running over of what is termed 
^ innocent mischievousness ; ’ it twinkles in his eye 
and bubbles from his lips. He is, I believe, the 


The Blue and the Gray. 163 

soul of honor. I know that he is as brave a man as 
lives, and just wh)^ he plays these pranks — ” 

“ He — they are playing no pranks ; there are two 
Lynns, and Ernest was with us last night,” said 
Luella. 

“ There was only one Lynn seen by anybody in 
Hernando last night, sister. You alone, of all the 
people who have seen him, or them, contend for 
two. I know nothing about your occult thesis, 
magnetic personality, or hypnotic potentiality ; but 
I am persuaded to believe that he does possess some 
such latent power or influence, which he can exer- 
cise at will for my sister’s delectation, and now she 
sees Ernest, then she sees Arthur, as the caprice 
moves him. However, I shall soon know whether 
there be one, two, or a legion.” 

“ How are you going about it, Tom? ” asked Mrs. 
Lamar. 

Why, I shall write to the mayor or the post- 
master at Akron, O.” 

Why, brother, surely you do not wish to 
manifest so much curiosity and raise a sensation in 
Akron! What reason could you assign for writ- 
ing? Then, we would place ourselves in an em- 
barrassing situation in our relations with the 
Lynns.” 

“ Lynns I I tell you there is only one Lynn.” 

“ Let it be one, then, and don’t bother — ” 

“ You contend for two, sister. I want to con- 
vince you of your error ; besides, I will not tolerate 
such duplicity.” 

“ O, don’t trouble yourself on my account, 
brother! Your business transactions with him 
were satisfactory; he has been our agreeable guesr, 
and, I may add, esteemed friend, whether he comes 
as the original or the duplicate, whether in time of 


164 


Luella Blassingame : 


war or in time of peace ; and it should matter little 
to you, since he is always one and the same, and — 

“ But he claims to be two, sister.” 

Well, which man of the two men impresses you 
the more favorably? ” 

“ Why, Ern — . Con — fusion it ! I tell you, there 
is but one. I know what I’ll do : I’ll go to see the 
wood choppers ; they can give me the straight of it.”. 

A few minutes later Tom rode up to where the 
men were clearing off the underbrush in a horse- 
shoe bend of the river. Hubbard, the foreman, 
greeted him with: “Good afternoon. Cap.! We 
halowed as ’ow hit were Captain Lynn till we see 
your ’orse.” 

“ No; Lynn returned to Ohio last night.” 

“Hand did ’e? That’s the hunexpected noos ; 
something ’appened ’im, Hi guess.” 

“ Yes; he received a telegram announcing the se- 
rious illness of his mother.” 

“ That leaves hus hin the middle o’ ha pesky fix. 
We reckon to brush hout this neck o’ the woods by 
Toosday noon, hand where Hi’m to fetch the crew 
to work next his what staggers me. Ho, Hi guess 
’e’ll come hagain hall right henough.” 

“ I suppose so. He left very suddenly. His 
cousin came last night, but he, also, left on the 
morning train.” 

“ Must ’ave been Captain Hernest, Hi guess.” 

“ Yes ; do you know him ? ” 

“ Nope; Hi never see ’im. We fellers kem from 
far-haway parts, hand never know the Lynns before. 
’E telled us something habout ’is cousin, hand say 
the two o’ them hare has very like has the span 
o’ black ’orses. ’Pears ’e’s been hin ha ’ospital hever 
since the war. ’E was hin these parts them days, 
hand ’e see some great sport halong o’ the dangers. 


The Blue and the Gray. 165 

One day Captain Harthur telled hus habout ha bar- 
becue ’is cousin spoiled by releasing the cuarcasses, 
hand ’e showed hus the spot where hit hoccurred, 
right down the creek ’ere.” 

‘‘ How did Arthur know about this?” 

“ That Hi carn’t tell ; you better ask ’im, Hi 
guess.” 

“ Did Arthur ever tell you that he himself had 
been in this immediate neighborhood during the 
war ? ” 

“ Nope. ’E said ’is cousin was hin these parts, 
hand ’ow ’e ’ad ha bout halong with you hand ’ad 
’is harm chopped by your sword ; hand, by the way, 
’e ’as ha lame harm ’imself — or ha disfigured harm, 
Hi should say, for hit his not crippled by hany 
means.” 

“Who? Arthur? Which arm and how?” 

“Yep; Harthur. Hit’s the right wing, habove 
the helbow; ha ^ Rebel ’ whacked hit hin ha fight.” 

“ Fight ! W'here and when ? ” 

“ Guess ’e must tell you. Cap.” 

“ Now, friend Hubbard, don’t you know that he 
has no Cousin Ernest, and that he, Arthur, was 
here during the war and participated in the inci- 
dents related? ” 

“ Hi guess not ; hall Hi know his what ’e tells 
me. ’E would not tell ha lie for the ’ull o’ this 
farm, hand Hi would tackle ha buzz saw sooner 
than Hi would dispute ’is word. ’E his ha good- 
natured, jolly gentleman, hand will give hand take 
hin fun ; but take care ’ow you touch ’im hupon ’is 
points o’ ’onor hand ’is personal hintegrity. You 
should ’ave seen ’im hand ’eard ’im rout ha lot o’ 
carpetbaggers when they called to see ’im down 
’ere one day.” 

“' What did they want ? ” 


166 Luella Blassingame: 

“ They hashed ’im to renounce hs politics hand 
turn Republican hand lend ’is name hand hinflu- 
ence to them hin consideration o’ a good hoffice for 
’imself. You never ’ear such ha tongue lashing has 
’e gave ’em, hand Hi believe ’e would ’ave kicked 
the ’trll posse out o’ the canebreck ’ad they not 
slunk haway. Ho, ’e was riled ! ’E said that ’e re- 
spected ha Republican who was such from princi- 
ple, hand would detest ’im were ’e to turn Demo- 
crat simply for gain or political preferment, hand 
’e happlied the same rule to the Democrat ; hand 
when they kem to ’im with such ha proposition, 
’e spurned hit with hall the contempt hand vehe- 
mence ’e would repel ha suggestion to defame ha 
woman or strike ha hinvalid. Ho, ’e his ha gentle- 
man, hevery inch ; ’e his kind, gentle, hand consider- 
ate, but brave hand ’igh-strung. ’E was born hand 
bred hin Hoiho, but ’is blood his Kentucky hon one 
side o’ the ’ouse hand Maryland hon the bother. ’E 
says that in Mississippi ’e found foemen worthy 
o’ ’is steel hand friends whom ’e delights to hem- 
brace ’eart to ’eart. That’s the kind o’ buckhye ’e 
his.” 

“ Yes,” said Tom, he is a noble, chivalrous gen- 
tleman, as is also his cousin — if, indeed, they are 
two. I have not seen them together ; yet, viewed 
singly, I have never seen a closer resemblance in 
twins. And, then, these other circumstances — but 
it must be so.” 

“ Hit his so. Cap. ’E says so, hand so hit his. 
They hare halmost twins ; their fathers were twins 
hand their mothers were sisters, so ’e told me.” 

. '‘And he has a sister. Miss Meta? ” 

“ Don’t know; Hi never ’ear habout ’er.” 

“ I suppose one of them will return soon ; if not, 
you may find work on the place.” 


The Blue and the Gray. 167 

‘ Plenty o' work, but which to do first his the 
question. We might make hit han excoose to 
knock hoff hand go to town, has your people do. 
Hi never see the like has ’ow they warm the road ; 
hand hon Saturdays you’d believe there was ha cir- 
cus hin the village, or ha free-lunch counter. ’Ow 
do they manage hit? ” 

‘‘ O, it is a custom of the country. We do not have 
to work as hard and constantly as you do up the 
country — that is, we have not had to do so in the 
past ; but it is up to us now, and unless we mend 
our licks, we must, sooner or later, go to the wall, 
or inside of four walls.” 

“ I think so. Captain,” spoke up a young man, 
who, with the others, had said nothing up to this 
time. 1 notice that, instead of improving your 
lands, you allow them to run down year after year ; 
your dwelling houses, outhouses, and fences are in 
a dilapidated condition ; your ditches and fence 
rows are neglected ; and your orchards amount to 
nothing; while your live stock, which is of inferior 
quality, ‘ grub ’ for a precarious sustenance on the 
commons all summer and stand shivering outdoors 
through the winter. It seems to me here is judi- 
cious, if not' very necessary, employment for all 
hands every day in the year. We could not pay 
our taxes and store bills up our way with such la- 
bor and management. There are twenty of us here, 
and we may work an entire year in renovating and 
improving this farm before its operation can be 
profitable, and then its necessary improvement will 
have just begun.” 

“ Yes, we appreciate all this, and realize the ne- 
cessity of adapting ourselves to the new order of 
things and taking hold of the work before us; but 
it is a hard matter to get out of the old ruts.” 


168 


Luella Blassingame : 


“ I vsee that the negroes do not work half the time ; 
and when they do strike a lick, they put no spirit 
in it. A great many of your young white men 
tell us that work is degrading; that a white man 
who labors on the farm has no standing in society 
or the community. Even the negroes at first 
sought to obtrude themselves upon us socially, but 
we ‘ knocked them out in the first round.’ Now 
they pass us by, affecting superior airs, wagging 
their heads, and referring to us as ‘ po’ white trash ’ 
working for wages. All this is new, surprising, and 
embarrassing to us.” 

‘‘ My young friend, I appreciate your feelings and 
those of your companions ; for you seem to be a self- 
respecting, moral, intelligent, and industrious com- 
pany of young gentlemen. You must not lay to 
heart the conduct of the worst classes of our peo- 
ple nor judge us as a whole by their measure. Our 
best people, rich and poor — or those whose opinions 
are worth anything — honor labor and respect the 
workingman. If he' is not accorded their respect, 
it is for some other reason than that he is a laboring 
man, and for the same reason the millionaire or the 
Governor’s son would fare likewise. These young- 
fellows who assume to look down upon you are not 
worthy of your passing notice, much less your seri- 
ous thought ; if cut loose from their father’s purse 
strings, many of them could not pay for a hair cut 
nor buy a ginger cake on credit. If they really 
possess a little of this world’s goods in their own 
name and right, they are still more contemptible 
for this manifestation of their brainless heads. 
Now, a great many of us are so situated that to 
engage in manual labor would be detrimental to our 
interests, our time being required to superintend 
and manage the estates left to us by our fathers ; 


The Blue and the Gray. 169 

but we are neither afraid nor ashamed to lay our 
hands to any kind of work. Your employment is 
equally as respectable as, and carries with it a great 
deal more of independence than, that of the dry- 
goods salesman, grocery clerk, drug clerk, deputy 
county official, or plantation overseer; for all these 
are continually subject to the beck and call, censure 
and reprimand of their bosses. You are ten times 
more respected by really good people than are the 
young men, rich or poor, who sport, dissipate, and 
sneer at the laboring men. Pursue the even tenor 
of your way, and, ten years hence, mark their stand- 
ing in the world, and — yours.” 

‘‘Thank you. Captain! We feel better now. Our 
parents have good farms and everything that is 
needed about them. We boys have some money 
ahead, owe no debts, and have the respect of all 
good people at home, and we could not understand 
why we should be looked upon with disfavor sim- 
ply because we are laboring men. We do not ex- 
pect, nor do we desire, to enter society, or the so- 
cial whirl, for it is not suited to our tastes, time, 
means, nor circumstances ; but to insinuate that we 
are of low grade or inferior caste because of our 
occupation or lack of money is an imputation which 
we most indignantly repel.” 

“ In this State to-day many of the most promi- 
nent, popular, and potent men, as well as some of 
the wealthy men, had lesser means, opportunities, 
and incentives than are yours to-day ; now their de- 
generate sons, or some of them, are going to the bot- 
tom. So the seesaw goes — up and down. Act well 
your part, regardless of fear, favor, or criticism.” 


6 


CHAPTER XIX. 


About a week later, Tom Blassingame returned 
from Hernando and informed Mrs. Lamar and Lu- 
ella that Ernest Lynn was in Hernando and that he 
would ride out to the farm the next afternoon. His 
aunt had died, and Meta would make her home 
with his mother. 

On the following morning Tom and Luella rode 
out through the gate and turned in the direction of 
the river, as they purposed going to Arkabutla. 
Selim looked up the road in the opposite direction, 
and gave utterance to a loud neigh, which was an- 
swered in kind. Looking in the direction of Her- 
nando, they saw a horseman coming. 

“ Ernest Lynn ! ” said Tom. I did not expect 
him before noon. We will await him here.” 

A deathlike pallor swept over Luella’s face — only 
for a moment, however. Recovering her wonted 
composure, she replied : “ Perhaps he will ride with 
us.” 

“ Here I am once again. Or am I still dreaming, 
having never left. this hallowed spot?” said Lynn, 
cheerily. 

“ I might distrust my own senses, since I, too, 
have been given to daydreaming; but brother Tom, 
who indulges no hallucinations, says that you are 
here in propria persona, and we gladly welcome 
you to the old haunts. Captain Lynn,” said Luella, 
extending her hand. 

“ It seems to me that you have been here all the 
time for the past several months, excepting only 


The Blue and the Gray. 171 

your absence during the past week; and your pres- 
ence now seems natural enough — that is, it is not 
the unusual,” said Tom. 

“ Brother can hardly disabuse his mind of the 
impression that you and your cousin are one and 
the same,” said Luella, laughing. 

“ We are enough alike to confuse our mothers 
sometimes ; but Arthur has been with you a great 
deal, and surely he explained matters, and — ” 

‘‘ O, yes ! ” interrupted Tom. “ I have been silly ; 
but it was not only the likeness, but several other 
circumstances, that pointed to only one. On the 
night of the concert there was only one Lynn seen 
in Hernando, no ticket for Memphis was sold, only 
one Lynn took supper at the hotel, and — ” 

“ I think I can explain to your satisfaction,” re- 
plied Lynn. “ My coming was a complete surprise 
to Arthur, as I desired it should be. It was dark 
when my train reached Hernando, and I walked 
hurriedly from the depot to the hotel, meeting Ar- 
thur alone upon the street; he had just eaten sup- 
per, and I had lunched just before leaving Mem- 
phis. We went, unobserved, to his room; and soon 
the telegram apprising him of his mother’s illness 
was sent up to him. I had a return ticket, which I 
gave him, and he left the hotel just in time to catch 
the train ; hence, my arrival and his departure were 
not noticed.” 

Pardon my curiosity. Captain, but Arthur is evi- 
dentl}^ familiar with, or well informed of, all the 
events and circumstances connected with your ex- 
periences here in 1863 ; why, he located our barbe- 
cue ground, and his right aim bears a scar similar 
to yours. But will you ride with us?” 

“ I will gladly do so. Yes,. Arthur received a 
sword mark — a facsimile of the one you gave me. 


172 Luella Blassingame: 

When I reached Memphis, I wrote a long letter 
home, minutely recounting all that occurred 
during the two or three fateful days of my soldier- 
ing here. I suppose some one here has pointed out 
the barbecue — ” 

“ Why, certainly ; Mr. Herring did so. Captain 
Arthur spoke of it in conversation with me,” said 
Luella. 

‘‘ Well, I would like to see the two roosters to- 
gether in one coop,” sighed Tom. 

“ I have a very distinct recollection of being sud- 
denly awakened from a long sleep to find myself 
in company with yourself and Cousin Arthur out in 
this grove, on the afternoon of the ninth day of the 
present month,” said Ernest. 

“ That is a mere vagary, Lynn, or an optical il- 
lusion,” said Tom, rebukingly. “ Sister and Arthur 
were out there at that time, but no third person in- 
truded to break the spell of their seemingly cheer- 
less tete-a-tete until I ruthlessly walked out there 
and chided them upon their woebegone appearance.” 

“ I, too, found them there, seated upon ‘ my log,’ 
and I must confess that then and there I experi- 
enced my first and only feeling of envy wherein 
Arthur was concerned. Just then I felt a shock 
similar to the one I experienced five years before 
on the cars. The light was let into my brain, the 
wheels were set going, and I realized that I was in 
an asylum in Chicago. Did you not see me there 
in the grove, Miss Luella? It is all so real to me.” 
Ernest Lynn spoke earnestly. 

“ Captain Lynn, I most assuredly saw you, or a 
metamorphosis of your cousin, and I mentioned the 
phenomenon to him at the time,” said Luella. 

“ You two are too deep or too high for me,” said 
Tom. “You dream dreams, see visions, and revel 


The Blue and the Gray. 


173 


in the aestheticisms of metaphysics and telepathy. 
T presume that you believe in transmigration and 
the communion of the living with the spirits of the 
departed.” 

“No,” said Ernest; “I do not believe in those 
speculative theories, but I believe that between two 
souls, while in their bodies, there may be a connect- 
ing link or mystic medium — a bond of sympathy 
capable of transmitting thoughts, sentiments, and 
emotions from one to the other. Now, my Cousin 
Meta, in her letters to me while I was in the army, 
often astonished me by divining my thoughts, 
plans, and intentions. Most wonderful of all, when 
I reached Memphis on that memorable day in Octo- 
ber, 1863, I found a letter awaiting me from her, in 
which she described the rencounter at Senatobia, in 
which you and I were the star actors, and then my 
rescue at your hands from the clutches of the guer- 
rillas. She was slightly indisposed at the time, 
so I attributed her vagaries to a fevered brain. 
When I saw her recently, she informed me that 
she had met you in Louisville in i860, and, though 
she has not since seen you, she recognized you in 
her visions, as she recognized me ; and, wonderful to 
tell, you are supplanting me — eclipsing me, as it 
were — for while your picture grows brighter in her 
mind’s eye, mine becomes dimmer.” 

“ Now, brother, I think you will not laugh at me 
again and call me a ‘ visionary.’ From the time you 
first saw Miss Meta’s picture, you have felt the 
magic of her influence upon you.” Luella said this 
triumphantly. 

“All this is remarkable, and my concern is per- 
haps more serious than you surmise. I have all 
along felt that I should some day meet Miss Lynn 
and that my destiny somehow hangs upon that 


174 Luella Blassingamb: 

meeting. While I cannot call into requisition the 
mystic and supernatural powers of divination, my 
perceptivities are not so dull. Now,” Tom con- 
tinued, “ let me hold up the picture and explain my 
vision. I see, in Capt. Ernest Lynn and Miss Meta 
Lynn, two in one, or one in two — 

Two souls with but a single thought, 

Two hearts that beat as one. 

Do I see clearly and speak truly, friend Lynn? I 
know that you are not given to prevarication nor 
dissimulation.” 

“ Friends,” said Ernest, “ I will endeavor, in a 
heart-to-heart talk with you, to explain the situation 
fully, believing that I may do so as unreservedly and 
as confidentially as though I were confiding the 
matter to my mother. My father and Arthur’s fa- 
ther were twin brothers, and our mothers were sis- 
ters ; they have ever been inseparable in their so- 
cial and business relations. Our fathers died in the 
summer of 1858, leaving a considerable estate, 
which we, their heirs, still hold and operate in 
common. Their lesidences face each other, having 
between them only the road which passes through 
the farm. Meta, Arthur, and I had been constant 
companions up to the breaking out of the war, ex- 
cepting the time when we were attending differ- 
ent schools. Arthur and I never had any differ- 
ences, and Meta has ever been impartial in the be- 
stowal of her affections upon us ; and there has 
never been aught in my conduct toward her to dis- 
tinguish it from Arthur’s. But from early child- 
hood we had understood that our fathers would 
expect Meta and me to marry when we became old 
enough. We three children thought this a nice ar- 
rangement, as a matter of course. The two fami- 


The Blue and the Gray. 175 

lies combined constituted one especially happy 
family, with no jars nor discords to mar the har- 
mony; and we children often talked about the fu- 
ture, and planned for our dear Arthur, regret- 
ting that I had no sister for him. As we grew 
up, we associated with other girls and boys ; and 
while we loved many of them dearly, we had no 
sweethearts. When the war came on, I was 
twenty years old ; Meta was sixteen. I enlisted for 
two years. Meta and I had never had any love pas- 
sages; apparently, she loved me just as she loved 
Arthur, and my . love for her was the same as his — 
the same love we bore to each other when, in kilts, 
we played at dolls and marbles. However, it was 
tacitly understood that we should marry — some 
time. While I was in the army, Meta and I corre- 
sponded regularly, but I suspect that our letters 
would scarcely be classed as ‘ love letters.’ She 
often said that if Arthur and I should bring her, as 
rich trophies, a couple of warm-hearted Southern 
sisters, she would be neither surprised nor dis- 
pleased ; and she told me in all seriousness that my 
marriage to another would not affect her otherwise 
than a like step on the part of Arthur. She is 
Southern by birth, tradition, and sentiment ; and — ” 

“ Not more so than yourself,” interjected Tom. 

“Yes, Meta’s parents were Tennesseans; they 
died when she was an infant. Arthur’s parents 
adopted her. Her father and my father were sec- 
ond cousins. After I left for the war, I did not see 
Meta until my return home from Chicago a few days 
ago. vShe is the same, only — like yourself. Miss 
Blassingame — even more beautiful than before. She 
is ' heart-whole and fancy-free ; ’ and when leaving 
her to run down here, I asked her : ^ When shall it be, 
Meta?’ She replied: ' O, we have all been so 


176 


Luella Blassingame : 


happy as we are, Ernest ! Let’s leave well enough 
alone. We do not seem to want to marry as do 
other lovers ; and, then, we would feel sorry for 
brother Arthur. While we would be the same to 
him, he would feel that our relations are changed.’ 
Now, I feel that I will never love her, except as I 
Avould love a sister, and I believe she realizes that 
she can only reciprocate in like manner. Time may 
serve us to good purpose ; I can only defer to Meta’s 
will in the — ” 

Lynn was interrupted here by Hubbard, who 
came rapidly to the roadside from the woods where 
he and the other men were at work. 

“ Captain Lynn, we reckoned that you were hin 
Hoiho. ’Ow his your mother ? ” 

“ You are reasonably mistaken, my friend. 
Cousin Arthur is in Ohio ; his mother died on the 
day after he reached home. I will take his place 
for a few days ; when I go back, he will return.” 

“ Ho, this his Captain Hernest ! ” 

“ Yes; I will see you again to-day.” 

As they rode on through the river bottom, Lynn 
remarked : “ Many changes have taken place here 
since my wild rides across this swamp. With me, 
it seems no longer than a week ago, and yet it was 
five years ago.” 

‘‘ It seems an age to me, with all the worries, 
losses, and aggravations,” said Tom. 

“ Yes, I suppose so. In the first place, it was a 
difficult matter to adjust your affairs to the changed 
conditions, to the new order of things.” 

“And it goes from bad to worse, Lynn. Our 
people will inevitably run aground under the pres- 
ent system of farming, with utterly unreliable la- 
bor, exorbitant prices for supplies, onerous taxes, 
and the odious political regime” 


The Blue and the Gray. 177 

“ I can well understand that the latter burden is 
the most unbearable of all your difficulties. Dur- 
ing the few days since my restoration to an appre- 
ciation of current affairs, I have seen and heard 
enough to convince me of the intolerable conditions 
imposed upon you. Once relieved of these, with 
local self-government restored, I cannot conceive 
of a better country than this for the agriculturist. 
I would supplant your worthless laborers with men 
like those woodmen; instead of buying supplies, I 
would sell them ; and if I needed a little cotton in 
my business, I would go to the river-bottom plant- 
ers and give them horses, mules, bacon, hay, corn, 
and potatoes in exchange for their cotton and cash; 
and I would improve my lands at the same time.” 

“ Your theory is the correct one, Lynn; but it is 
impracticable, because efficient labor is unattaina- 
ble.” 

“ Why, we have no trouble in that line in Ohio. 
Now, these men we have at work here on this place 
a/e adept in all manner of farm work, and are nei- 
ther slouches nor sluggards ; and Ohio is full of 
them.” 

^^Aye, but in two years’ time' they will be shirkers 
and idlers, and you will be running this place to 
cotton, negroes, and mules.” 

“We will sell the farm for half value first. I 
think that these boys, or others like them, will stay 
with us.” 

“ They are becoming dissatisfied already, Lynn.” 

“Indeed! How? Why?” 

“ They observe that many of our young men do 
not work, and they have been informed by some of 
these ^ gadabouts ’ that the workingman loses 
caste — ” 

“Why, this astounds me!” exclaimed Lynn. 


178 


Luella Blassingame. 


“ Labor is a requirement of respectability with us.” 

“And so it is here, too, Captain Lynn,” said Lu- 
ella — “ that is, with all truly good and right-think- 
ing people ; unfortunately, however, a great many 
worthy parents had, by their industry and econ- 
omy, accumulated a competency which enabled 
them to pamper and spoil their children, and these 
youngsters are now the victims of a false pride and 
aversion to all manner of work.” 

The conversation was here interrupted ; as they 
came to an abrupt turn in the road, they met a 
wagon, drawn by a pair of good mules, bearing four 
bales of cotton and driven by a sprightly, stalwart 
young man, who gracefully raised his hat. 

“ You are early getting to market, Robert,” said 
Tom. 

“Yes, Captain; the weather is favorable, cotton 
is opening fast, and I like to keep close up with the 
picking.” 

“ Lthink I may introduce old acquaintances,” said 
Luella. “ Captain Lynn, this is Mr. Robert Phil- 
put.” 


CHAPTER XX. 


“Ah, indeed!” ejaculated Lynn, riding up to the 
wagon and grasping the extended hand of the 
young man. “ I have long held this young gentle- 
man and his good mother in grateful remembrance. 
I think I owe it to them that I am living to-day.” 

“And I owe all that I am and have, as well as all 
I hope to be, to you and two other friends. Captain 
Lynn,” replied Robert. “A portion of the money 
which you recovered from Cartwright was given to 
me by Miss Luella, Mr. Sowell having requested 
her to distribute the fund among the needy. The 
money was a great boon to me, but her accompany- 
ing words of encouragement then and since have 
been an inspiration to me, stimulating my efforts to 
attain to permanent good. But we had mourned 
you as dead. Captain Lynn.” 

“ I have been dead to the world for five years, 
but the Lord has permitted my return to the walks 
of men. I will see you often, as I hope to be your 
neighbor ‘ over the creek.’ ” 

As the party rode on, Lynn said : “ There has 
been a wonderful improvement in that young man.” 

“ There’s no telling the outcome of a mangy colt 
or a measly boy,” replied Tom. 

“ If the boy or the colt has the mettle in him, it 
will, sooner or later, assert itself,” said Lynn. 

“Right you are. Captain,” said Luella. “We 
have many striking examples of men and women, 
who are now shining examples for young people, 
who have come up through the struggles of penury 


180 


Luella Blassingame: 


and the clouds of obscurity. A little material aid 
accorded them is utilized to the very best advantage ; 
but, above all, it is moral support, encouraging- 
words and the manifestation of our interest in their 
laudable endeavors, that is most helpful to such 
struggling ones. Now, Robert Philput, at the age of 
fifteen years, saw no rainbow hues against the clouds 
that encompassed him. His father had ever been 
indifferent to the duties, responsibilities, and enjoy- 
ments of real life. Destitute of material things, as he 
was destitute of self-respect and higher aspirations, 
his associations and environments were of the 
meanest order. His mother was of like proclivi- 
ties. Outside influences alone could fire the 
boy with laudable ambition, for his home life held 
no elevating influence; and yet, to-day, no young 
man in this community is more highly esteemed 
than Robert Philput.” 

“ I am interested in his case,” said Lynn. “ Will 
you tell me how it all came about? ” 

“ I will do so with pleasure. Captain Lynn,” said 
Luella. When Robert Philput’s father was 
killed, the boy realized the responsibility thrust 
upon him ; his self-reliance, as well as a measure of 
self-importance, was awakened. With the one 
hundred dollars of the Cartwright fund he pur- 
chased a mule to complete his team. He gath- 
ered his crops, and then attended school for three 
months during the winter, making astonishing prog- 
ress in his studies ; he also taught the younger chil- 
dren at home. The wagon conveyed the entire 
family to church, where they regularly attended 
Sunday school and preaching; and thus they have 
gone on from a good beginning to better progress. 
Robert now has a fairly good education and the re- 
spect and good will of all, is church clerk and 


The Blue and the Gray. 181 

secretary of the Sunday school, and is prospering 
in worldly affairs. Many of our young men who 
have the advantages of wealth and influential 
friends, with the prestige of illustrious ancestry, fall 
far short of Robert’s measure of intrinsic worth.” 

“Yes,” added Tom, “he has not only surpassed 
them in mental and moral worth, but a few years 
hence will find him and many others like him in the 
ascendency in financial worth.” 

“ Such men — ‘ self-made,’ we call them — are not 
uncommon with us up North,” said Lynn ; “ but I 
had thought that, under the conditions here, it 
would be a difficult matter for a poor man to rise 
above his environments.” 

“ It has been so,” said Tom ; “ but under the condi- 
tions that now confront us, the mythical superiority 
and arbitrary precedence of the erstwhile dominant 
class cannot be sustained by its dismantled sons, 
who rely upon the prestige of their ancestry and 
the glamour of their past for their own preferment. 
Notwithstanding all this, many men have climbed 
the hill, have come from the bottom to the top — for 
instance, Sargeant S. Prentiss and many others in 
this State.” 

“ How about the social . status of these rising 
young men? I understand that Southern society 
has been confined almost exclusively to slave hold- 
ers — an aristocracy as exclusive and arbitrary as 
those of Europe,” said Lynn. 

“ Some of our people did affect this vainglori- 
ous assumption, arrogating to themselves supe- 
rior airs, because the Lord, for some good reason, 
or Satan, for purposes of his own, had placed in 
their hands a certain portion of this world’s goods. 
This was merely formal or conventional society- 
mere child’s folly — and had no connection with, nor 


182 Luella Blassingame: 

bearing upon, genuinely good society, where char- 
acter and conduct are everything and where the 
flashy leaders of this silly set would find no wel- 
come. I have no patience with pretentious exclu- 
siveness. The possession of money is a great ad- 
vantage to us in accomplishing good in the world, 
but the inordinate love of it or its misapplication 
for our self-aggrandizement is ‘ the root of all evil,’ ” 
said Luella. 

They had now returned home; and, the outdoor 
atmosphere being clear and balmy, Mrs. Lamar was 
sitting on the veranda, where our late equestrians 
found chairs, and resumed, or continued, the con- 
versation. 

“ Sister and I and many of our friends are in- 
tensely democratic,” said Tom. “ True, we have 
our circle of associates, drawn together by — er — ^ the 
affinities of souls,’ as she calls it, and the correlatives 
of tastes and pursuits conducive to congeniality; 
but negroes, lands, or dollars — bah ! They may 
take upon themselves wings and fly away; then 
your pretty birds, when denuded of their gaudy 
plumage, are only loathsome toads. My ancestors 
for many generations have been large slave holders. 
This war has relieved me of three-fourths of my 
patrimony; and now, because of my nonequipment 
for an even-handed contest with Jim Herring or 
Robert Philput, I may dose the remnant of my 
heritage, while they absorb it. Must I assert that 
I am too good to work or that I am too good to 
associate with working people just because my fa- 
ther inherited property which increased in his 
hands? I shall ever point to my parents with 
pride — not because of their wealth, good looks, or 
social standing, all of which they had in plenty, 
but because of the exemplary and useful lives they 


The Blue and the Gray. 


183 


lived and the principles they instilled in their chil- 
dren. To lose the dollars they left me would be no 
disgrace, but to . tarnish the name would be to sin 
against them and to degrade myself. But you have 
your aristocracy, or plutocracy, and your ‘ sets ’ and 
‘ circles ’ at the North, Lynn.” 

“Yes,” admitted Lynn; “we have them in the 
larger cities; but, fortunately, the rural districts 
have thus far escaped contamination. We have, more 
especially in the East, a moneyed aristocracy and an 
exclusive set predicated of ' blue blood.’ I can see 
no just ground for the claims of either class. There 
may be something in blood ; but the strain is so often 
broken, and we find saints and sinners, priests and 
robbers, fools and philosophers, and fops and fid- 
dlers alternating along the line. Our moneyed 
aristocracy is not two generations removed from 
the garden hoe and the washtub ; I mean no disre- 
spect, but all honor, to the manipulators of the hoe 
and the tub.” 

“ Our great-grandmothers, perhaps, were pur- 
chased with a hogshead of tobacco, their husbands 
making the tobacco by the sweat of their brows, with 
clay pipes in their mouths. They had nothing to 
boast of, and they might now feel elated could they 
behold our splendor; but how will it be with our 
great-grandchildren?” asked Tom. “These self- 
inflated people, who make such unwarranted pre- 
tensions, remind me of hogs with pearl necklaces 
or peacocks whose gaudy plumage cannot conceal 
their barnacled legs. * Any pig-headed little fellow 
can make money and lord it over his superiors, and 
his daughter can wear diamonds and flaunt her 
finery and patronizing airs in the face of a dress- 
maker, who is really worth her weight in gold, if 
to get money and selfishly use it is their chief con- 


184 


Luella Blassingame: 


cern. Such a man may sometimes experience a lit- 
tle discomfort in the region of his conscience ; but, 
after all, the almighty dollar is paramount to con- 
science. The unscrupulous hog or arrogant fowl 
can as consistently strut and be puffed up over slop 
and feathers as the man whose only excuse for self- 
gratulation is his plethoric purse.’’ 

“As for the aristocracy of blood and lineage, the 
Jew stands peerless and alone,” said Luella. 
“Jews are the purest-blooded people and have the 
best-established descent in the world. When a Jew, 
prominent in affairs of State, was taunted with the 
appellation ‘Jew ’ by an English lord, he aptly 
retorted: ‘ Yes, I am a Jew; and when your ances- 
tors were brutal savages on an unknown island, 
mine were priests in the holy temples of the Lord.’ 
They may well and truly say: ‘We have Abraham 
to our father.’ The mystery of the incarnation 
found expression in the flesh and blood of the very 
foundation of our Christian civilization through the 
Jew; we sing Jewish psalms, we are uplifted by 
the passion and poetry of Jewish prophets, we 
rely upon Jewish biographers for the only historv 
Ave have of Christ, we get our Pauline theory 
from the Jew, and we catch our first glimpse of 
heaven through the sublime apocalyptic vision of 
a Jew; then, if you seek an aristocracy of talent, 
the world’s roll of great poets, painters, musicians, 
philosophers, authors, and financiers contains the 
names of Jev/s largely in excess of a pro rata. 
Yet Ave Christians sometimes turn and sneer at 
the Jew — not because he rejects the Savior, for we 
think very little of this ; but we assume to base our 
superiority upon our lineage, our money, and — ” '• 

“Money!” interrupted Tom. “If there is any 
just claim to the aristocracy of wealth, the Jew is 


The Blue and the Gray. 185 

certainly entitled to that distinction. The com- 
bined wealth of the Jews can control the finances 
of the world.” 

“And you cannot suppress them,” added Lynn ; 
“ a dozen Russian czars cannot do it. Every na- 
tion has tried it, but failed. The Jews have out- 
lived the Tudors, the Plantagenets, the Romanoffs, 
the tyrannical rulers of Spain ; the dynasties of 
France, Constantine, the Ca3sars, the Babylonian 
kings, and the Egyptian Pharaohs. They were 
God’s own peculiar people for four thousand years, 
and the awful persecutions that they have survived 
for two thousand years more would indicate that 
they still bear some mysterious relation to the 
plans of the Eternal. The beauty and the fidelity of 
their women command our homage ; and in many 
instances their culture, blended with a sort of Ori- 
ental grace and dignity, places them among the most 
charming and interesting women in the world. It 
is cause for regret that we have seemingly given up 
all hope of converting them to Christianity.” 

“We had better convert many of our church 
members first,” said Tom. “ We do not set the 
Jews a good example, nor do we practically demon- 
strate the superior benefits of our system of religion 
and code of morals. You do not see loafers, beg- 
gars, drunkards, libertines, nor divorcees among 
them; there are relatively fewer inmates of hos- 
pitals, jails, and workhouses furnished by the Jews 
than by any other people. But ‘ they say ’ that the 
Jew is tricky. Is he alone in this? The Jews stand 
together in business matters. Do we as well? Were 
you never ‘ taken in ’ in a horse trade by a Metho- 
dist class leader? Did you ever get into close 
quarters with an Episcopalian broker? Did you 
ever buy goods of a Presbyterian, relying solely 


186 


Luella Blassingame: 


upon his representations? When it comes down to 
business, do we take a man’s word quicker because 
he is a Baptist or a Roman Catholic? In the be- 
ginning, thousands of Jews were converted because 
Christ’s followers were all of one mind and by both 
precept and example demonstrated the beauties of 
the Christian religion, as well as their faith and sin- 
cerity in it. But soon dissensions arose. We were 
divided into sects, as the Jews had been; we were 
led oif by the doctrines of men. Jealousies, rival- 
ries, bickerings, and backbitings followed ; one 
worldly innovation after another followed ; out- 
ward forms and ceremonials were introduced ; and 
our everyday lives have become so inconsistent 
with our professions that we can scarcely expect 
the ignorant heathen — much less the highly enlight- 
ened, discriminating Jew — to give credence to our 
plea. A man may 

Smile and smile, and be a villain still; 

he may wear a long face and attend regularly upon 
the ordinances of his church, but his everyday walk 
is his best sermon.” 

“After all,” said Luella, “ character is the only 
thing that should be considered in estimating the 
worth of the individual. Men and women of in- 
nate worth are modest and unassuming, and nei- 
ther the acqiiisition of wealth, education, and hon- 
ors nor the accident of birth turns their heads ; they 
may be proud, but they are never vain.” 

Isn’t that a paradox, sister, which needs eluci- 
dation ? Are not ‘ pride ’ and ‘ vanity ’ synonymous 
terms ? ” 

“ Perhaps they are, in their common application ; 
but I think I can explain their differentials. The 
most common weakness among moderately success- 


The Blue and the Gray. 187 

fill people is vanity. As soon as they find that they 
have accumulated a little more property than their 
neighbors have, they feel that they are entitled to 
extra consideration on account of — what? Why, 
dollars ! At first they expect it ; later, they de- 
mand it. More especially is this true of young 
people whose parents have accumulated somewhat 
of corruptible, if not corrupting, things. Pride is 
another thing, and is commendable. One who has 
pride in his country, in his home, in his family, in 
his community, and in his own laudable endeavors 
does not expect a continual round of applause and 
flattery ; while vanity feeds on flattery. Pride does 
not blind the eye to our own defects nor to the ave- 
nues for our improvement ; while in the eyes of the 
vain man all that he does is without blemish and 
cannot be improved upon. Pride spurs one on to 
a better life, nobler purposes, and greater efforts ; 
vanity keeps him at a standstill and, as he imag- 
ines, upon the apex of the pinnacle excelsis. Pride 
is commendable; vanity is ludicrously contempti- 
ble ; and of all detestable things, the arrogant, purse- 
proud individual is the most despicable. Now, in 
this immediate section we are all poor, relatively 
speaking ; one hundred thousand dollars would buy 
almost any one of us ; and yet some few among us 
would astonish the Rothschilds with our gorgeous 
display and pompous airs. As a rule, however, the 
wealthier people among us are exempt from this 
affectation, and those lower in the scale who do so 
disport themselves are called ‘ shoddycrats.’ ” 


CHAPTER XXL 


“A CONCISE and lucid analysis, Miss Luella,” said 
Lynn. “ I have ever deplored this vanity which 
has foisted upon society so-called ‘ aristocracies of 
wealth ’ — the most senseless and unmerited claim 
to social, or civic, distinction imaginable. There 
are aristocracies composed of coteries of true no- 
bility in the realms of morals, brains, art, science, 
and literature — above all, in genuine Christian- 
ity — wherein the clink of gold is a discordant 
sound and the rustling silks and flashing scarf pins, 
too often displayed, are looked upon as exhibitions 
of vulgar taste. It may be true that ‘ blood will 
tell ’ and that the culture and refinement that wealth 
makes easy of acquirement are worth our while, 
but we may find the best blood where least ex- 
pected ; and it is undeniable that the noblest char- 
acters and the most useful lives sometimes spring 
from poor, obscure, and (it may be) ignoble parent- 
age.” 

‘‘Yes,” added Luella, “a diamond in the rough 
or a pearl in the mire is of much greater value 
than polished bitumen or burnished pinchbeck. 
If the best we can say of one man is, ‘ He is rich 
and of good family,’ and the worst we can say of 
another is, ‘ He is poor and of low origin,’ the latter 
is logically the better man ; but the former, by rea- 
son of his dollars, may push aside the latter or run 
over him when they meet upon life’s highway. 
Just transfer the dollars from one to the other, and 
we may imagine the result.” 


The Blue and the Gray. 189 

“ Speaking of blood,” said Tom, ‘‘ we hear a great 
deal about ‘ blue blood,’ the sterilized fluid which 
is supposed to leisurely course its way through the 
shriveled veins of a remote descendant of the 
squaw, Pocahontas, or some less illustrious ances- 
tor. This may do for the asinine voluptuary 
of an hereditary nobility in Europe or the dolce 
far niente existence of senile snobbery, where all 
personal effort and ennobling aspirations are con- 
sidered vulgar; but for the real exigencies, possi- 
bilities, and accomplishments of strenuous life, we 
must have the rich, red blood of a virile yeomanry. 
The family name may be perpetuated for thousands 
of years ; but to maintain the original blood would 
necessitate the marriage of brothers and sisters 
only, running back to — Adam ; and there a dis- 
comfiting fact confronts us, for Uncle Cain was a 
very black sheep, and Father Adam and Mother 
Eve were expelled in disgrace from all participation 
in the felicities of the ‘ best society.’ I make this 
illustration with profound reverence, because it so 
aptly demolishes our pretentious claims on that 
line. Some of us boast of our ‘ family trees.’ Those 
old trees have put forth so many branches and 
have been so often ingrafted and budded with alien 
stock that their fruitage is multifarious, running 
from choice Bartletts to sour grapes, small per- 
simmons, and rotten apples. Their timber turns out 
more blockheads than ‘ chips off the old block.’ Of- 
tentimes the best fruit they bear is attributable to an 
obscure bud, 'found by the wayside and ingrafted 
upon the effete stock; for the mother is the more 
potent factor in imparting inherent qualities to, as 
well as in inculcating the nobler principles in, the 
child. Talk about blood— fiddlesticks ! Worthy 
parents are truly a great blessing; they give one 


190 Luella Blassingame: 

great advantage in many ways, besides the in- 
centive to emulation ; but our claims to excellence 
of birth should run no farther back. I am a Blas- 
singame in name; what am I in blood? My mother 
was an Ellis, and my father’s mother was a Smith. 
I had four grandparents, sixteen great-grandpar- 
ents, and sixty-four great-great — why, it is like 
shoeing horses for one cent for the first nail and 
doubling the amount for every succeeding nail. 
By retracing the line a few centuries, I may find that 
in my veins courses a vestige of the blood of every 
Anglo-Saxon who then lived, and, in addition, a lib- 
eral admixture of various other strains. My father 
inherited some property, which was greatly en- 
lianced by his efforts. My parents were, mentally 
and morally, above the average, giving me inesti- 
mable advantages, which I appreciate ; and I am 
proud of this heritage (not vain, sister). Robert 
Philput had none of these advantages. Now, for 
whatever success we may attain, which should re- 
ceive the more credit, he or I? ” 

“ Mrs. Lamar, will you kindly favor us with your 
opinions concerning these questions ? ” asked Lynn. 

Mrs. Lamar, busy with her knitting, had been a 
silent, though interested, listener, as her reply 
shows. She said : “ I have very decided — and 
perhaps unique, or nonconformal — opinions upon 
the subjects of sociology, individual worth, and per- 
sonal merit, and I think we all here are pretty well 
agreed. Now, I have never experienced the pinch- 
ings of poverty ; but many of my best friends were, 
and are, poor people, and from observation I know 
much of the disadvantages of poverty. Wealth 
in the hands of a good man is a manifold blessing. 
Such a one can give hundreds and thousands of 
dollars and suffer no self-denial, except as to his 


The Blue and the Gray. 191 

greed or vanity ; while one dollar contributed by 
the poor man does involve self-denial, because he 
or his family is thus deprived of that amount of the 
necessary comforts of life. Hence, the rich man 
should be the better man, because his opportunities 
are greater; but if he neglects to make use of the 
means given him for doing good, then he is the 
lesser and worse man of the two.. Money and 
brains, with all the prestige they give us, are credit- 
able to our standing in the world only when we 
apply them to the betterment of the world. Social 
equality, or promiscuous association, is undesirable, 
and will never be urged by any class or condition. 
Select circles of choice friends and congenial spir- 
its are drawn together as naturally as are birds of 
a feather. No amount of plumage, however bril- 
liant, can procure entree for an unsavory fowl ; 
while one of congenial quality is a welcome guest, 
though attired in the modest garb of the turtle- 
dove. Money, an honorable name, intellectual 
equipment, and illustrious ancestry — ^all combined 
— cannot give free access to truly good society when 
their possessor is an immoral man or a vain, frivo- 
lous, arrogant woman. The teacher, the milliner, 
the dressmaker, the farmer’s daughter, the heiress, 
alike endowed with the self-respect and discrimina- 
tion of true womanhood, would spurn the society of 
such a person, however bright he or she may shine 
in the ‘ fast sets.’ After all, men and women should 
be measured and weighed by their individual per- 
sonalities, divested of all trappings. The majority 
of our great and good men are the product of plebe- 
ian, rather than patrician, birth. The great com- 
moners move the world, and the plain people are 
the life and savor of it. Now, more than ever, is 
it incumbent upon the young men and young 


192 


Luella Blassingame: 


women of the South to put forth individual effort 
and make their personality felt ; they must stand or 
fall by it. How the money millionaire dwarfs be- 
fore the character millionaire ! How poor and des- • 
picable does the man with only his accumulations 
of money appear beside the moneyless man with a 
superb personality ! The millionaire of brains, self- 
culture, and generous impulses puts to shame the 
man who has cramped and dwarfed his soul for 
money. To be able to throw the empressement of 
a grand personality before us wherever we go 
through life and to leave a glow of sunshine be- 
hind, to be loved because we scatter flowers of 
good cheer wherever we move, is a grander work 
than to pile up millions of cold, unsympathetic, 
mean, hard dollars. A youth born and bred in de- 
sultory luxury, who has always leaned upon his 
parents, never having to fight his own way, is only 
a sapling; while one who has had to struggle for 
his existence and a place in the world has devel- 
oped a fiber as strong as that of the oak. By wrest- 
ling with obstacles the giant is made stronger, while 
the weakling bends and falls to earth. For the 
sons of the South the battle is now on, and only the 
fittest can survive. They have wrought valiantly 
with the sword, but the odds against them were 
overpowering; they must now turn to the plow- 
share with renewed heroism. Under the new 
regime we may expect many evolutions and trans- 
positions — a general shake up, in which the top and 
bottom strata will be conglomerated, or the order 
reversed. As for the assumption of blood, I have 
never tried to climb my genealogical tree, for fear 
I might perchance run up against some member of 
a dissolute royalty, a debauched nobility — a Robin 
Hood or a Nero. As Thomas said, the sap of the 


The Blue and the Gray. 193 

old tree has been universally disseminated, and each 
twig bears a fruit peculiarly its own, its quality be- 
ing determined by its budding or the pollen received, 
care and sunlight greatly facilitating its develop- 
ment; but overmuch of these sometimes conduces 
to insipidity; and the twig consigned to the shade 
and exposed to the storm may bear superior fruit. 
Hence, the successes and failures in the lives of men 
and women are continual surprises to us, and our 
ideas as to what constitutes success are at variance, 
as our view points are diverse.” 

“ You hew to the line, and you have a prophetic 
eye, Aunt Ruth,” said Tom. “ The battle is to the 
strong and the race is to the swift. You fellows 
knocked the props from under us, Lynn; for the 
negro was our shade in summer and our fire in 
winter, our food and raiment, and our staff and 
comfort. Thanks to my parents, I have not been 
bolstered and padded, fondled and coddled; and 
what I may lack of brains and lucre, I can com- 
pensate in brawn and pluck. It is to be the sur- 
vival of the fit — ‘ fightest,’ for life is a battle. Robert 
Philput may some day be a bank president, and his 
daughter may be a society leader, while I follow a 
flop-eared mule up and down the cotton rows. 
Up North, men are continually going up and down 
in the financial whirligig. Your millionaires of to- 
day peddled mouse traps or towed canal boats not 
two decades back. .Since it is no longer ‘ nigger 
in the cotton patch,' but ' nigger in the woodpile,' 
with us, brain and brawn must be lugged out from 
the sequestered shades of innocuous desuetude and 
made to participate in the heat and toil of the arena 
of utilitarian activities.” 

“ ' The survival of the fittest ' is a good axiom,” 
said Lynn ; “ but the fittest often turn up where 


194 


Ltjella Blassingame: 


least expected and regardless of antecedents, envi- 
ronments, or opportunities. Self-made men are the 
architects of their own fortunes ; but that the ele- 
ments of their success were implanted prenatally 
or had their initiative in early infancy is a patent 
conclusion. We observe the unaccountable dis- 
parities about us. We see one thrifty oak over- 
shadow and dwarf its neighbor oaks of the forest. 
They all had an even start and shared in an im- 
partial distribution of soil, sunshine, and shadows ; 
and we attribute its ascendency to its innate supe- 
riority. But whence came this advantage? It 
sprang from an acorn, dropped by the one parent 
tree of the entire grove. It was simply the ca- 
pacity to grasp and utilize the means provided for 
its nourishment that gave to it its ascendency. 
Two stalks of corn in the same hill ; two pigs in a 
pen; twins in their mother’s arms; Cain and Abel, 
when the world was new and certainly large 
enough for two — all these demonstrate this dispar- 
ity of thrift and enterprise. It is seen in the phys- 
ical, mental, moral, and spiritual attributes and 
activities of men. In intellectuality, we observe a 
giant now and then, but generally we see a great 
body of mediocrity, with a large percentage of pyg- 
mies. I think that in heaven there will be jewel- 
less crowns, starless coronets, and crownless heads. 
That merit wins is an infallible law.” 

“ I do not know about that,” said Tom. ''As I 
said a while ago, the ' fightest ’ — not the fittest — 
win the battle, come out on top. ' Might makes 
right ’ is the slogan in war and the motto in peace. 
Three large boys will combine and niake a clean 
sweep of all the marbles on the campus, three big 
porkers in a lot of twenty will swig all the swill, 
and the big fish will eat the little ones. Our men 


The Blue and the Gray. 


195 


are only boys grown older ; we outgrow our fellow- 
man by ‘ hogging ’ him, and our whales in the swim 
have grown great because they have taken in the 
suckers and gobbled up the small fry. No, sir ! 
The discarded adages, ^ Right gives might ’ and 
' Merit wins,’ have been exploded, and the Golden 
Rule now reads : ‘ Do the other fellow before he 
does you.’ ” 


CHAPTER XXII. 


“ Now, to be wealthy is not always to be shallow, 
arrogant, or misanthropic ; position and accom- 
plishments are not necessarily pride nor vanity, nor 
do they scorn true manhood which God has not 
blessed with this world’s goods. There are rela- 
tively as many truly good people among the very 
rich as there are in the ranks of the very poor, 
but I believe that real merit is found in larger pro- 
portion in the great middle class. There are a 
great many people — a large ‘ class,’ I may say — who 
are densely ignorant, cringing, groveling, and en- 
vious, with socialistic or anarchistic tendencies. 
They envy and abuse every man who has money, 
attributing their poverty to his success. Instead 
of striving to emulate or excel those above them, 
they sit down and mope in a spirit of malevolent 
rancor. Their splenetic venom is all directed at 
those who have accumulated much money,” said 
Lynn. 

“Just so,” replied Tom, “ and a great many rich 
people believe that all poor people are of this class 
and treat them as such ; and this leads most poor 
people to believe that all rich people are alike in 
this respect. Hence, the chasm is abnormally 
widened. ‘ The love of money is the root of all 
evil ; ’ but which is the greater lover of the lucre — 
the man who possesses it, the pauper who covets 
it, or the socialist who clamors for his unearned pro 
rata of the aggregate? We do not seem to envy 
those who so far excel us in their wealth of head 


The Blue and the Gray. 197 

and heart. O, no ! We want an equal distribution 
of — dollars ; in fact, we think we should have the 
lion’s share of the evil and hold the other fellow’s 
nose to the grindstone for a while. After all, there 
are a great many good people — rich and poor, high 
and low, learned and unlearned ; but the glamour of 
the dollar leads to many false and invidious dis- 
criminations. ‘ Money makes the mare go,’ and the 
beast is often blind, running roughshod over many, 
regardless of the right of way of others. ‘ Money 
is power;’ but, unfortunately, it is too frequently 
unbridled.” 

“ The power and influence of wealth, the vast ac- 
cumulation of dollars by the few — this is cause for 
alarm,” said Lynn. “ It received its impetus during 
the war; has gained strength and volume at an 
astounding rate; and will, sooner or later, wreck 
our social, or civic, structures, if it does not pervert 
the foundation stones of our government. You, of 
the South, have not had occasion to test the power 
of money nor to manipulate it for multifarious 
ends. Your investments have been of such char- 
acter that their normal service and reasonable in- 
crease afforded you an easy competency. At 
the North, we appreciate the power of money 
and rely upon the strenuous application for the at- 
tainment of results commensurate with the amount 
employed ; by its use, we overcome all obstacles. 
Ivloney has no scruples; it is minus conscience. It 
is the preponderant potentiality — paramount to 
morality, intellectuality, piety, and all the other 
forces and virtues of mankind. It carries elections, 
levies taxes, directs legislation, instigates war, cor- 
rals the press, fixes prices, subpoenas witnesses, 
bribes juries, controls schools, sets fashions, calls 
preachers, selects choirs, closes the door against 


198 Luella Blassingame : 

Lazarus and conducts Dives to his upholstered 
pew — ’’ 

“ Surely not so bad as that ! ” interrupted Lu- 
ella. 

“Yes,'’ continued Lynn, “the poor have been 
turned from the doors of some of our fashionable 
churches and congregations, and the leading mem- 
bers have objected to their pastors’ visiting the 
poor. Many poor people voluntarily absent them- 
selves from church because they are made to feel 
ill at ease in the house of the Lord. Now, this is 
the work and effect of much money. There are 
many good Christians in those congregations, but 
money wields the controlling influence. This ap- 
plies to only a few ultrafashionable congregations ; 
but' we all know how these things grow and spread. 
I make no war upon rich men ; none of us do this. 
.Some of them are the best people on earth, because, 
all things else being equal, their wealth is a benefit 
to a community. But we were discussing the pos- 
session of much money and the evil tendency 
thereof. Solomon was a good man. He prayed for 
great wisdom. God gave him wisdom, and this 
should have made him a still better man ; but with 
his wisdom came great wealth, and this led to van- 
ity, pomp, splendor, licentiousness, debauchery — a 
wretched old man living and dying in remorse of 
conscience. ‘All is vanity and vexation of spirit.’ 
A bad man will make good money bad, but bad 
money will make a good man bad. Money and 
whisky are useful articles, accomplish great good 
when properly used ; but when a bad man is puffed 
up with a plethora of either, he is worse than he 
was. This is the inevitable result where there is 
an inordinate desire for, and a malappropriation of, 
these articles. Neither of them is an evil per se. 


Thr Blue and the Gray. 199 

but the love of either leads to sin. So long as the 
love of money and the desire to wield it for worldly 
success were confined to worldlings, there was some 
hope for the survival of higher ideals, nobler lives, 
and grander results ; but since this glittering ser- 
pent has insidiously crept into the church, beguil- 
ing professing Christians, casting about them the 
blandishments of self-conceit and worldly pride, 
and persuading them that a conventional religion 
is sufficient, the outlook is gloomy.” 

“And this love of money deceives us into mistak- 
ing our own characters,” said Tom. “ Should a 
man accuse one of us of being dishonest, a slap in 
the face or a challenge to a duel would be forth- 
coming; yet we are continually stooping to acts of 
downright dishonesty ; and we are good church 
members, too. Once I bought a horse of a good 
neighbor and brother, paying him fifty dollars more 
than he had previously offered to sell the horse 
for (as I subsequently learned). The horse’s eyes 
were apparently good ; in fact, however, they were 
bad. I asked sundry questions as to his age, condi- 
tion, etc., all of which my friend answered satis- 
factorily. Passing around to the horse’s head, I 
said : ‘ He has good eyes.’ My friend said — noth- 
ing. The horse went stone-blind within three days. 
This honorable, Christian gentleman knew that this 
horse’s eyes were weak ; he had been doctoring 
them. He refused to make restitution, saying that 
1 had bought the horse upon my own judgment. 
That was only a shrewd ‘ trick of trade ; ’ that’s all. 
Numbers of first-class citizens assess their prop- 
erty for less than one-half its value. A merchant 
of high standing in church, business, and society 
had never paid taxes on more than a ten-thousand- 
dollar valuation of goods and building; yet he car- 


200 Luella Blasstngame: 

ried three times that amount of insurance, had a 
fire, recovered two thousand dollars’ insurance, and 
kept every dollar of it. A merchant was showing 
a pair of shoes, the price of which was five dollars ; 
the farmer ‘ dickered ’ with him for a while, and he 
lowered the price to four dollars. Then the farmer 
looked at sundry other goods. ' Shall I put these 
up for you ? ’ the merchant asked, observing the 
farmer’s examination of the other goods. ‘ No,’ he 
responded ; ‘ I need only the shoes.’ ' See here, old 
friend, you are a good customer of mine. I will 
sacrifice the profit on these shoes ; really, I will 
lose money on them ; but this is confidential, mind 
you. Let me put up the entire lot (the shoes and 
the other goods) for you, and I’ll make the price of 
the shoes three dollars and fifty cents.’ ” 

“ Was he a Jew? ” asked Lynn. 

“ No, sir-ee ! He was a United States man, a home 
product ; was brought up in the church, Sunday- 
school, and a Christian home in this county; and 
was a prominent worker in church, business, and 
politics. I was passing his store later in the sea- 
son. He was running a ' clearance sale at cost.’ I 
went up to one of the salesmen and bought the 
identical pair of shoes, paying two dollars and 
eighty-five cents for them — the ‘ actual cost.’ Poor 
Jim Herring, who could not ‘J^w ’ him down, paid 
him five dollars for the same shoes. So it goes. 
The love of money is blinding our eyes and sear- 
ing our consciences. O, well, we can’t make the 
world better by berating its frailties ; as Aunt Dilcy 
says : ‘ Dar’s more diffunce in some folks dan any 
people I eber did see.’ ” 

“Just so,” replied Lynn. “ We can always see 
the mote in our brother’s eye. However, we some- 
times profit by discussing people, their manners. 


The Blue and the Gray. 201 

and the times. I sometimes think that most of us 
are better at heart than we appear upon the surface, 
and that only our most intimate associates can dis- 
cern the good in us. I have spent a pleasant day 
with you all, and trust that I may enjoy another 
such very soon. I expect Arthur to arrive in a few 
days ; then I will return to Ohio.” 

“•Captain Lynn, let me insist that you urge Miss 
Meta to come with your Cousin Arthur,” said Mrs. 
Lamar. 

“Yes, do! Tell her that she must come and 
spend the winter with us. The change will do her 
good,” added Luella. 

* H< 

A few days later, Tom Bla^singame returned 
home from Hernando, and announced, as he en- 
tered the hall: “ They have come, sister! ” 

“ Sure enough?” asked Luella. “One, two, or a 
legion ? And Meta, too ? ” 

“I surrender all doubts and opinions; they are 
two — Ernest and Arthur — ^each a replica of the 
other, perfect counterparts in all respects. And 
Meta — well, my dream is realized; I have met mv 
fate—” 

“ Why, brother, you know that she is to marry 
Ernest ! ” 

“Marry Ernest — never! They both realize that 
their parents reckoned without their hosts. They 
will have an understanding soon.” 

“ When will they come out ? ” 

“ To-morrow afternoon.” 

Hs * 

They came ; they saw ; they conquered. A fore- 
gone conclusion, evident upon this, their first meet- 

7 


Lcella Blassingame. 


203 

ing, tout-€ 7 isem 1 }le. To distinguish between Er- 
nest and Arthur required a somewhat finer dis- 
cernment than ocular demonstration. This occult 
sense of discrimination was possessed by Luella; 
she could have no hesitancy in identifying Ernest, 
either when alone or when with Arthur. Tom could 
not distinguish one from the other, and felt that the 
bond of congeniality was of equal strength and 
warmth upon either of them. Luella and Meta 
were at once drawn into a mutual attachment, 
which soon merged into a warm friendship, 
culminating in a beautiful love, never more marked 
and impressive than it is on this good day — January 
I, 1903. As Mrs. Lamar, with sotil-lit eyes^ looked 
upon the happy group, she could not restrain her 
emotions, but fervently exclaimed ; “ My children I 
I have never experienced a mother’s love, her joy, 
or her pride ; but now I appropriate the blissful re- 
alization and claim this noble group for my own.” 

“ If the mother is happy, how great is the joy of 
her children ! Receive our love, our reverence, our 
devotion ; they are yours,” responded Arthur, feel- 
ingly. 


CHAPTER XXIII. 


Time sped upon wings of love, laughter, and song 
in the Blassingame home. Tom Blassingame had 
purposed going to Texas to seek a location for 
business. The day set for his departure had passed, 
and yet he lingered. He and Meta were together 
a great deal ; Ernest and Luella naturally fell to- 
gether in the walks, drives, and tete-a-tetes ] while 
Arthur was seemingly happy when playing attend- 
ance upon Mrs. Lamar, who apparently reveled in 
the exuberance of an autumnal rejuvenation. AH 
were manifestly solicitous for Arthur’s happiness, 
since he was the solitaire in the cluster of gems. 
The quartet were playing croquet ; Mrs. Lamar and 
Arthur were seated near by, looking on. “ Never 
mind, my boy ! ” said Mrs. Lamar. “ I am expect- 
ing a vis-a-vis for you soon. You will then no 
longer feel like one forsaken.” 

“ Forsaken ! ” exclaimed Arthur. “ Good mother, 
how can you? With you and these dear brothers 
and sisters, I am as happy as a petted and spoiled 
child well can be. But of whom do you speak? 
I am curiosity on tiptoe.” 

Of a dear, sweet niece — the only child of my 
brother, who lives in Georgia ; not a spoiled darling, 
as you may imagine, but a noble young woman.” 

The conversation was here interrupted by the ar- 
rival of a party of young people from Hernando. 

* * * 

Miss Ruth Blassingame came, and Arthur de- 


204 


Luella Blassingame: 


dared that her aunt had not said half enough for her, 
while the young lady found his society very agree- 
able. Our group was now frequently segregated 
and going in pairs. 

The time had arrived when Tom and Ernest 
must tear themselves away from these dear asso- 
ciations, and go---the one, to Texas ; the other, to 
Ohio. It was a lovely Indian summer afternoon, 
and Ernest and Meta walked out to the grove— Er- 
nest’s old camp ground—- and seated themselves 
upon the log near the grapevine. After chatting 
for a while as brother and sister upon the eve of a 
temporary separation, Ernest asked : “ Do you be- 
lieve in Platonic love, Meta?” 

Why, certainly I believe in it, Ernest,” replied 
Meta; “but I think there is danger in cultivating 
such attachments, however helpful and enjoyable 
they may be to us.” 

“ Why dangerous, Meta? ” 

“ Because they may ultimately bring pain to one 
of the participants.” 

“ I do not understand how this can be. so, if the 
Platonic affection is entirely distinct and apart from 
all passion.” 

“ I do not believe they are wholly distinct and 
irreconcilable. Really, I do uot believe that any- 
thing could be more ideal for the perfection of love 
between man and woman than friendship, supple- 
niented by a measure of passion.” 

“Just so, Meta. When we get to know each 
other well and to appreciate each other’s best quali- 
ties, we may suddenly awaken to the conscious- 
ness that the old friendship, however pleasant, is 
not enough to satisfy us ; we crave something 
more.” 

“Yes, Ernest; when a man and a woman are 


'Fhe Blue and the Gray, 205 

young and unfettered, there is always the risk that 
friendship will slip over its bounds and become love. 
When this transition is mutual, nothing could be 
more ideal for the perfection* of love; but when this 
change comes to one, and not to the other, the 
sweet friendship may turn to bitter pain.” 

“ I see this, Meta, and fear that I feel it ; but 
must we avoid making friendships which are the 
most profitable and enjoyable that it is possible to 
make, just because there may exist a risk of ulti- 
mate pain in them ? ” 

“ Certainly not, Ernest ; but far better it were to 
spend our happy hours in the companionship of 
one of our own sex than risk the tragedy of unre- 
quited love.” 

Then, Meia, I must turn away from an associa- 
tion which has made me a better and a happier man 
for the beautiful friendship it has evolved from the 
thraldom of traditional enmity. I no longer stand 
upon the broad and lofty plane of friendship, as 
one secure, contented, and happy in that position ; 
but my feet are upon the crumbling brink of the 
precipice overhanging the lover’s leap. But I beg 
your pardon, Meta ; you have not had this experi- 
ence, and vet you speak so feelingly and advisedly 
of it?” 

“ No and yes, Ernest ; I had never experienced 
the love for man until recently. In i860 my heart 
was awakened to a sense of its susceptibility when 
I casually met a youth, whom I did not again see 
until quite recently;, and now that experience is 
confirmed ; my feet, too, are upon treacherous 
ground. You speak of slipping over the precipice, 
Ernest; both you and Luella fell over together 
when you were sol’diering in this grove ; your love 
is mutual. But I see them coming out to join us.” 


206 Luella Blassingame: 

But our love — our engagement, Meta ! 

“ You are my very dear cousin — or brother, 
rather; and I am your spoiled little sister — nothing 
more, nothing less.” 

Tom, Luella, and Mrs. Lamar had walked out 
from the house, and were now approaching them ; 
Ernest and Meta arose to meet them. Arthur and 
Ruth had been for a ride upon the backs of Selim 
and Roy, and now rode through the grove, joining 
the group. 

I have been ‘ seeing ’ again,” said Luella. 

‘‘What visions now, A'liss Luella?” asked Er- 
nest. 

“ I looked over here just now and saw you two 
seated on the log; then a cloud or a mist concealed 
you. This cleared away, and I saw brother and 
myself with you; Meta walked to the house with 
brother Tom, and I walked with Ern — Captain 
Lynn.” 

“And thus we will,” said Tom, drawing Meta’s 
hand within his arm ; while Ernest stepped to Lu- 
ella’s side. 

“And thus through life you will walk, my chil- 
dren ; and may Heaven’s choicest blessings attend 
you,” said Mrs. Lamar. 

“ Will you kindly extend the benediction to em- 
brace this couple, too, mother?” asked Arthur. 
“ Ruth has made me very happy.” 

“ I gladly do so, my dears. I am not a match- 
maker, but it would seem that I am successful in 
facilitating the announcements.” 

* * 

The writer will endeavor to give the reader a pen 
picture of Meta Lynn as he then saw and knew 
her: She was an uncommonly sensible young 


The Blue and the Grai. 207 

woman, with none of the giddiness one might ex- 
pect in one of her age. Those who see only the 
superficial prettiness in nature or art would have 
called her “ interesting,” rather than “ beautiful,” 
upon first acquaintance. She disdained to simulate 
the artful wiles and coquettish smiles so often em- 
ployed by the fascinating girl; but her fair, intel- 
lectual face; her quiet voice and entertaining con- 
versation ; her gracious manner ; her occasional mu- 
sical laugh; her symmetrical and graceful figure 
(of medium stature) ; her large, dark-blue eyes ; her 
shimmering, nut-brown tresses — all combined in an 
interesting personality. She was not a girl to flirt 
with nor to rave about; she was a woman to medi- 
tate upon and dream about — the discriminating 
man’s true ideal of what a woman should be, just 
such a woman as he would like to win for his wife. 
She was modest and retiring, and was deferential to 
the advice and opinions of elderly people, but gave 
her views and opinions when occasion required ; she 
was ever respectful and considerate of the aged, 
and did not think it beneath her dignity to pay 
attention to children and to those in the lower walks 
of life. She was gracious, but never gushing. In 
conversation, she listened attentively, and did not 
manifest an eagerness for a pause in another’s talk 
to enable her to rush in and take the floor. One did 
not learn all there was to know about her the first 
time one met her; by degrees the acquaintance 
grew into a lasting friendship and an ever-increas- 
ing high estimate of her worth. Such was the 
treasure won by brave, dashing, noble-souled, gen- 
erous-hearted Tom Blassingame. 

* H« * 

Arthur and Ruth rode over to the house, dis- 


208 Luella Blassingame : 

mounted, and awaited outside the coming of the 
others. When they all were once more together 
near the veranda steps, Tom said : ^‘Just how you 
divined how matters stand with us all puzzles me. 
Aunt Ruth.” 

“ It needed no power of divination, Thomas,” re- 
plied Mrs. Lamar ; “ my perceptivities are not so 
dull; and I myself was once young. You all have 
been under my observation, and I discerned the 
trend of your affairs and anticipated their culmina- 
tion before you yourselves saw your way out of the 
intricacies. Even now I am not so sure that any 
of you are formally betrothed ; but I have broken 
the ice for you.” 

No ice between us here,” quoth Arthur, indi- 
cating Ruth and himself ; “ and I think that there is 
at least a tacit understauding between the other 
couples.” 

“ You have forestalled us. Aunt Ruth,” said Tom. 
“ I had prepared a pretty little speech which I pur- 
posed submitting to Miss Meta in conventional 
style. For years she has been the object of my 
meditations by day and my dreams by night. I 
need her and must win her.” 

‘‘And I have long expected this — perhaps ever 
since so long ago as i860, when we, for the first 
time, met in Louisville,” replied Meta. 

“And I,” said Ernest, “ have lived in a fitful fever 
of alternating hope, fear, and uncertainty ever since 
the good day when I was called to account by an 
indignant young lady for the depredations of my 
soldiers upon her premises. Love sprang into my 
heart then and there, and has continually increased 
in strength and ardor until its requital and con- 
summation are absolutely essential to my existence ; 
and now — ^Luella?” 


The Blue and the Gkay. 209 

Luella drew closer to his side, saying : “ I gave 
myself away when the brave boy-captain was about 
to be led from my presence to the stake by the 
guerrillas after he had heroically rescued me from 
their clutches. That was our betrothal, my noble 
Ernest, and neither life nor death can annul it. 
Then you were my unexpected friend and protector ; 
now you are my knight and lover, and shall be 
henceforward to the end.” 


CHAPTER XXrV. 


Tom Blassingame went to Dallas, Texas, where 
he engaged in the mercantile business. Ernest Lynn 
returned to Ohio, stopping off at the little Ken- 
tucky town to see his good foster parents, Mr. and 
Mrs. Brume. They were never so happy as when 
their “ own dear boy ” was with them. He, of 
course, had no recollection of his sojourn with them 
while his mind was a blank, but his love and grati- 
tude were only the greater on that account. Ruth 
Blassingame remained until after Christmas, when 
she returned to her Georgia home, accompanied by 
Arthur Lynn, who remained a few days in the 
home of her parents. Meta remained the guest of 
Mrs. Lamar and Luella. 

* Hi * 

Time — Eleven o’clock, A.M., June 6, 1869. 

Place — The Baptist Church, Hernando, Miss. 

The commodious auditorium, rose embanked, is 
packed by an eagerly expectant congregation, 
drawn hither to witness a double wedding of sur- 
passing interest because of the prominence and 
popularity of the contracting parties and the 
charm of romance leading up to this consumma- 
tion. Carriages roll up to the door; ushers are on 
the qui vive; there is a craning of necks, and all 
eyes are turned to the double entrance. The or- 
ganist, Miss Lem D. Cooke, strikes the prelude to 
a wedding march as two stately ladies enter and 
pass up one aisle to the pews reserved for the im- 


The Blue and the Gray. 211 

mediate friends and relatives. A subdued murmur 
of pleased surprise and admiration is heard. “ Who 
is the beautiful lady with Mrs. Lamar?” “Why, 
don’t you know? That is Mrs. Lynn, Ernest 
Lynn’s mother.” Next come Arthur Lynn and 
the queenly Ruth, who were recently married. 
Noav there is a perfect hush ; the audience sits with 
bated breath. Luella, in a gray traveling costume, 
and Meta, in a fabric of blue, together pass up one 
aisle; while Tom Blassingame and Ernest Lynn, 
attired in outing suits — the Blue and the Gray, 
respectively — advance, arm in arm, up the other 
aisle, meeting the ladies within the chancel, where 
the pastor. Rev. S. H. Ford, D.D., pronounces the 
ceremony uniting these noble lives in the Heaven- 
ordained relation. After an informal reception and 
light refreshments at the Fadley House, the bridal 
party, including Arthur and his bride, board the 
train (under a shower of rice) for an extended tour 
in the North and West, returning via Dallas, where 
Tom and Meta will be “ at home.” The other 
couples, after spending a few days with them, will 
depart, Ernest and Luella returning to Mississippi ; 
Arthur and Ruth, to Ohio. 

sH * * 

The Lynns, finding it inexpedient to operate the 
Blassingame farm profitably under the then exist- 
ing untoward conditions, sold it in the early sev- 
enties, and Ernest went to Dallas, where he associ- 
ated himself in business with Tom Blassingame, his 
mother and Mrs. Lamar also going and making 
their home with Ernest and Luella. Arthur and 
Ruth still occupy the Ohio homestead, and they are 
prosperous and happy. 

Mr. and Mrs. Brume, the aged couple who cared 


212 


Luella Blassingame: 


for Ernest in their home until he was removed to 
the asylum, died without heirs at law, but be- 
queathed their possessions, including a valuable 
farm, to their “ beloved son, Ernest Lynn.” He, in 
turn, bestowed it upon Robert Philput over the lat- 
ter’s protest, but with Luella’s hearty concurrence. 

Hon. Robert L. Philput, a man of means .and 
beneficent influence, and his estimable wife and 
beautiful and accomplished daughter, Luella Er- 
nestine, are popular in society and active in all good 
works. 

Jim Herring is succeeding reasonably well in Ar- 
kansas. 

Jack Gross made his way to Texas, where he was 
soon afterwards killed by a cowboy. 

Rumor said that Glover surreptitiously returned 
to his old haunts in Mississippi and threatened his 
former associates with exposure in default of their 
paying him a bonus, and that they “ put him out of 
the way.” 

* * * 

Reader, will you go with me to Dallas, Texas? 
It is April 23, 1902. The reunion of the United 
Confederate Veterans is in progress, and the city is 
thronged with visitors from many States. Being 
travel stained, weary, and worn, we leave the surg- 
ing, swirling mass of humanity and drive out a short 
distance upon one of the beautiful boulevards to 
find rest and refreshment in the homes of old 
friends. Two handsome suburban villas sit facing 
each other upon opposite sides of the road. They are 
perfect counterparts in architecture, color, and all 
their appointments, with only one exception. On the 
lawn surrounding the residence upon the right, we 
observe the life-size, bronze statue of a beautiful 


The Blue and the Gray. 213 

horse. In passing, we read upon the base of the 
monument this inscription : 

SELIM. 

Born at Akron, O., on April 23, 1858. 

Died at Dallas, Texas, on April 23, 1883. 

The Noblest of His Kind. 

, sk Hi 

Passing on to the house, we are received by a 
couple of beautiful, though venerable, ladies, who 
are seated upon the broad veranda — more beauti- 
ful still as the radiance of a joyful recognition suf- 
fuses their countenances . and they embrace us as 
dear friends of “ aiild lang syne.’’* These ladies are 
Mrs. Lamar and Mrs. Lynn. Our greetings are 
scarcely over, when a portly, neatly-dressed col- 
ored man in a delivery wagon drives up to the gate. 
Two colored boys run a foot race from the house 
to the wagon, ^and return, bearing crates, boxes, 
and baskets of fruits, vegetables, etc. A stocky 
old black woman, arrayed in her best bib and 
tudker, comes around from the rear of the house 
and goes truckling down to the gate, exclaiming: 
“ Hi, MistaJi Jeems Blassingame ! Wharfo’ you 
perambellate out in de hubbubs? I thought you 
city niggers wus too upity ter s’ile yer feet in ken- 
try dirt.’' 

“ You know that I am always glad to run out 
home. Aunt Dilcy,” replies Jim ; “ and I never fail 
to come out on Selim’s birthday.” 

“You is right, Jim. Dar neber wus no boss 
ladk Selim, an’ no folks lack ourn ; an’ you an’ me 
hain’t gwine ■ er hab no truck wid common niggers. 
But what’s dem chilluns ? ” 

“ What children. Aunt Dilcy?” 


214 


Luella Blassingame: 


“ You fool nigger, you ’tend lack you don’t know 
whut I’se talkin’ erbout ! You knows dat Marse 
Tom and missie an’ dem is all de chilluns I’se got.” 

“ They are coming, and a lot of old Mississippi 
friends with them.” 

“ Bress de Lawd ! Dis is de renewion, fer er 
fac’ — Mississip. ter-day, Kaintuck yistidy, an’ Ohier 
ter-morrer. Heah da is, done cornin’ dis bery 
minit ! ” 

A vehicle dashes up, and a quartet of surpass- 
ingly handsome young people spring out — ^^Tom and 
Luella Blassingame and Ernest and Meta Lynri, 
children of our old friends. 

Say, my fine chilluns, wharfo’ you done lef’ yer 
daddies an’ mammies?” asks Aunt Dilcy. 

“They are just behind us,” replies Meta; “and 
do you know. Aunt Dilcy, that Miss Philput, of 
Kentucky, will come to-morrow to spend a month 
with us ? ” 

“ No kin ter Bob Philput in Mississip., I trus’ ; da 
is po’ white trash — ” 

“Hold on, black mammy! You must not talk 
that way,” says Luella. “ Miss Luella Philput is a 
grand lady — a belle of the blue-grass region — and 
her father is a good man, and rich enough. You 
remember that Meta and I spent a month at her 
home last summer. Her father was a poor boy 
when you knew him in Mississippi, but never 
‘ trash ’ nor ‘ truck.’ She loves to talk with any 
one about her father’s early struggles, for he has 
often told her all about them.” 

“ I’se so glad dat da has riz erbove de scum, an* 
I’ll be on de q’s an’ p’s wid ber; but yander comes 
my chilluns ! ” 

The family carriage drives up, bearing two 
couples of as handsome middle-aged people as one 


The Blue and the Gray. 215 

will see anywhere. They step to the ground, and 
the boys in waiting lift the baskets of flowers from 
the carriage and bear them to Selim^s grave. The 
reader has recognized the last arrivals as our 
friends of forty years ago — Luella and Meta, Ernest 
and Tom — as handsome and vivacious as of old. 
They do not leave the gate, but await the coming 
of a tallyho, which is loaded to the guards with old 
Mississippi “ Boys in Gray.^’ After a general 
hand shaking, the entire company repair to Selim’s 
monument, which the deft fingers of the children 
of Ernest and Luella, with the assistance of their 
cousins,, adorn with a profusion of flowers. Ernest 
and Luella stand at Selim’s head ; and as they look 
into each other’s eyes, the love light is as refulgent 
as on their wedding day thirty-three years ago. 
Some one suggests that Ernest don his blue uni- 
form, to which he replies : I would be in a hope- 
less, though conspicuous, minority. You were a 
formidable adversary when we outnumbered you 
four or five to one. However, I struck my colors 
in the midst of the fray, and surrendered — to one 
little woman.” 

Luella is pinning a Mississippi rose upon the 
lapel of his drab coat as he is speaking; and as he 
ceases to speak, their eyes meet — and their lips as 
well. 

The End. 



ADDENDA. 


We promised the reader to have something 
further to say of Uncle Eph., the suave, loquacious, 
and obsequious old “ cullud pusson;'' We had sup - 
posed that he had long since passed over, gone 
“ vvhar de good nigger goes/^ Imagine our sur- 
prise when, in August of the good year of 1902, 
Uncle Eph. turned up here in Brownsville, Tenn., 
looking the same as he did forty years ago, even to 
the antiquated plug hat, high standing collar, and 
threadbare Prince Albert coat, in which we saw 
him attired on the occasion of his .memorable ha- 
rangue under the brush arbor on the Blassingame 
plantation. 

Brownsville has two jewelry stores, on the south 
side of the Public Square. Between these two stores 
is a fancy grocery and confectionery, the proprie- 
tor of which arranges a tempting display of fruits, 
melons, etc., on the pavement outside his door. 
Uncle Eph. first attracted our attention when he 
entered the door of Mr. Hotchkiss' jewelry store, 
addressing the proprietor as follows : “ Say, Mr. 
Hotchkiss, I woosh you'd fix dese heah ban's fer 
me ; da won't keep no sort ob time." 

“ Where is your clock, old man ? I must have 
the clock before I can do anything for you ; the 
hands are all right.” 

“ No, sar ; you ain't gwine ter git dat clock, boss. 
You jes' 'low ter misintegrate dat pronometer all 
ter pieces, an' den penipulate its 'syncracies an' mis- 
construct de parfernalia ob its minutia tergedder 


The Blue and the Gray. 217 

erg’in, an’ in quincequonce you will den charge me 
er distortionate bill, an’ — ” 

“ Hold on ! It seems that you are wound up and 
will never run down, ^ven if your clock does refuse 
to run.” 

But dat clock do go ter beat er cyclone sixteen 
ter one. Bar’s no defickilty in de resolution ob de 
wheels an’ ’purtenances. When you winds it up, it 
starts off lack er buzz saw ur whirlemgig. It am 
swiffer dan er tempus fugitive, an’ will strike nine- 
ty-nine times in er minute an’ er half ; but as soon 
as it makes de diskiverment ob de pevarsity ob dese 
ban’s, it stops, ’cause dar’s no sense in it gwine on 
widout de ’compa’ment.” 

“ W ell, uncle, I can do nothing for you unless 
you bring me the clock.” 

De trouble is all in de ban’s, jes’ lack I tell you, 
boss ; de clock is magner boner.” 

“ Excuse me, now ; your prolix verbosity is be- 
coming monotonous.” 

Now, boss, dem two big words you jes’ gib ut- 
terment to hab er fermiliar soun’. Da currellate 
.somewhat wid my own elervated dierlec’. Say, 
boss, jes’ set dat tray ob finger rings out on de 
show case fer my respection.” 

Do you wish to buy a ring? If so, about what 
price?” 

To be sho’, I does; an’ de price is ob no quince- 
quonce, pervided de goods suits me. Whut am de 
costibity ob dese twinkets?” 

“ O, anywhere from five to fifty dollars.” 

“Which am de fifty-dollar class?” 

“ These over here. Make your selection ; time is 
precious.” 

“ I’ll ’scuse you, boss, an’ you may go ter de oder 
customers, whilst I make er scretinizin’ ’zamination 
8 


218 Luella Blassingame : 

ob de rings. I hab er ’thetic taste, an’ I’se hard ter 
please.” 

No; I shall not leave you. If you really want a 
ring, select the one that you like and I’ll name the 
price.” 

“ I’ll ’fer de matter fer er more ’unvenient occa- 
sion. Say, is you gwine ter fix dese ban’s?” 

“ No, no, I tell you ! Now, move on ! ” 

“Yes, sar, yo’ mos’ rebedient. So long! Ory 
vory! Bong joury! But, say, kin you reform me 
hQw to promulgate my ’porosity in orderment 
ter ’rive at de po’tals ob de domercil’ ob Mr. Wood- 
yard’s jewelry composium?” 

“ On the corner going east. Now move out, or 
your ‘ corporosity ’ may collide with the pavement 
outside I ” 

* * * 

A few evenings later. Uncle Eph. stopped at the 
door of the confectioner before mentioned, and 
asked : “ Is dis de ’stablishment ob Mr. Goodman 
&Son?” 

. “ Yes, this is the place.” 

“ Prezactly I I thought dat I ain’t mistooken 
de termination ob my barrin’s; but de ’pearments 
ob de ’splayments at de doah hab been disarranged 
since I las’ prerigernated in dis terrection.” 

“ Yes, you are at the right place. What can we 
do for you ? ” 

“ Now, I am pervinced ob de fac’ dat I hab ’rived 
ter de place ob my er — wrong-to-do [rendezvous], 
where I allers transac’s my principul shoppin’. 
Whensomeber my pocket happens ter be minus de 
filthy lucus (as is de case at dis time present), why, 
den de brass on my cheek an’ de silber ob my 
tongue is ingin’rally tooken ter be squibelant cullat- 


The Blue and the Gray. 219 

eral. Yes, sar, my credic is illimited wid dis firm. 
Fac', boss ! ” 

“ Say, were you here to see Mr. Hotchkiss with 
the hands of your clock the other day?’^ 

Mos’ ashoredly I wus.*^ , 

“And you then went to Mr. Woodyard with your 
hands ? 

“ Prezactly, sar ; currect you is erg’in.” 

“ What did Mr. Woodyard do for you? ” 

“ Well, sar, he jes’ int’rupted de chain ob my 
’splanification ^fo’ I could Vive at de Vitiation ob 
de preamble, an’ tol’ me ter squatulate frum his 
Vironments an’ ter vamoose an’ m’ander to Guinea 
or ter Hel — ena. Say, boss, dis is er gushious war- 
termillion ; an’, come ter think, our paster will do 
hisself de honor ter dine wid me ter-morrer, an’ 
dis million will be er gelicious adjunc’ ter de sump- 
tuous horsepertality which I’se gwine ter ’spence on 
dat ercasion. You jes’ ’posit er ticket fn de {cash 
drawer, an’ I’ll lickerdate de bill Monday, an’ — ” 

“ Hold on ! Put that melon down, or pay for it ! ” 
“ Boss, I ’clar I lef’ my po-money ter home, an’ 
I hain’t er conternental red nur solemcolly copper 
erbout de ceptercols ob my habilerments.” 

“ Well, old man, the cash will get the melon.” 

“ But, boss, de spondulix is nuncumaterble in dis 
present ’margency, an’ it are now ten er’clock 
Sat’day night. I’ll premunerate you fer dis heah 
million an’ de oder ones, too, Monday.” 

“What other ones? I don’t understand — ” 

“ De millions, an’ ceteries, whut my boy, Julian, 
inveyed frum yer umporium ter my domercil’ de 
Oder night.” 

“ I know nothing about Julian, or you, either; I 
don’t even know your name.” 

“ You jes’ step back ter yer sanctern sanctolen 


220 


Luella Blassingame: 


an’ infer ter yer ledger, an’ you’ll fin’ dem things 
charged ter my credic. Go an’ insult yer book ; I’ll 
keep er vigerlent an’ covetous eye on dese luxyriesi 
ontel you returns.” 

“ No, I’m not going to leave you. Your boy 
stole those things. Bring that boy and the money 
here by eleven o’clock; I’ll send a man with you.” 

“ Boss, de boy is gone ter — whar Mr. Woodyard 
terrected me ter go ; an’ ter tell de trufe, widout eny 
mental preservation or puppus ob invasion, dar is 
no money at my house ; but ef I libs. I’ll bring you 
some chickens.” 

“ I thought you left your money at home.” 

“ Dat were all imagernation, boss.” 

“ I expect the chickens exist only in your imagi- 
nation, too.” 

“ No, sar-ce ! De chickens is dar, but da roos’ 
mighty high, an’ ter kotch ’em I’ll hab ter make 
insider’ble ’sturbment in de neighborhood. De 
S(iuall won’t be imagernary; de dog’s bark won’t be 
no dream, his bite won’t be no joke; an’ de ’pote 
ob de gun will send er hot missive ter de man in 
de er — fowl business. I cain’t nohow transac’ dis 
business ontel after de witchin’ hour ob midnight.” 

“ You have no need for a dog or a gun. Just tell 
your neighbors that you intend to catch your chick- 
ens, and bring them here at once.” 

“ Boss, you sho’ has got me in er clos’ corner, 
er rebarrassin’ pilema. I’se makin’ all de prerange- 
ments I kin an’ ’jectin’ myse’f ter all dis oncon- 
venience an’ danger in orderment ter pay you er 
hones’ debt. Ef dem pullits ’long ter me, da neber 
hab yit come home ter roos’; da are dis minit 
joyin’ de noctunnel siesta in de henhouse ob a gen- 
lelum on de oppersite side ob town frum my habi- 
tal.” 


The Blub and the Gray. 221 

Come inside the house here, you old marplot ! 
What is your name? Where did you come from? 
Where do you live?/' 

‘‘YeSj'sar, yer mos' rebedient. My entitlement 
is ‘ Ephraham Blassingame,' an' I lib all erbout in- 
gin'rally an' permiscisly. I'se a moscoperlite, an’ 1 
hail 'riginally frum Kaintucky an’ den frum Missis- 
sippi." 

“ Oury," said the merchant, addressing one of his 
clerks, “ call an officer.” 

‘‘Yes, boss, 'sensin’ yer int’ruptions, I wus per- 
ceedin’ ter ’splanify dat I’se no onnery niggah, but 
'longs ter de upper tender — de erleet. I were de 
coachman — an', quincequontially, de sarbent — ob er 
Kaintucky kernel, er member ob de F. F. K. ‘ Fust 
Famblies ob Kaintucky ’ is de bignificance ob dat 
'scutcheon, but de kernel said de 'terp’etation ob de 
'brev’ation is : ‘ Fuss, Fight, an’ Kill.' ” 

A number of customers dropped in right here. 
Uncle Eph., profiting by the little commotion, 
skipped out through the back door into the dark- 
ness, and has not since been seen in Brownsville. 


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